The Year of Practice
 
August 2024
 
 
 
 
 
 
Announcing Annual Conference Tiers
 
 
OJAI, CALIFORNIA
 
 
Join us for the 2025 Annual Conference, celebrating our 15th anniversary in picturesque Ojai, California, from January 13-17. This year's theme, "Performing: a harmonious blend of preparation, practice, and spontaneous magic," promises to inspire and elevate your professional and personal endeavors.
Experience captivating keynotes, interactive sessions, and exclusive networking opportunities designed as an unparalleled opportunity to aim toward the future. Now, with limited tiers available, including Virtual, Standard, Premium, and VIP options, secure your spot today to ensure you don't miss this transformative event.
 
 
Level up your conference experience with tiers available from virtual to VIP. Stay tuned for more info on conference addons!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Get CEO Time
 
 
MAKE COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
 
 
Our self-paced Thrive program includes Weekly eCoaching that could become the most valuable 40 minutes of your work week. It’s one thing to study Transactional Competence. It’s another thing to practice it.
Thrive members are invited to Zoom in early and connect with the IU community before sessions. Thrive eCoaching is your weekly chance to get priceless time with CEO John Patterson backed up a rich library of professional resources. Join us next week!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10 Essential Trends Transforming Small Business
 
 
STUDY THE CURRENT
 
 
Stay on the cutting edge. Join our engaging webinar to explore the top 10 trends and challenges facing small business owners today. Our expert panel will provide insights to keep you ahead of the curve and drive your business success. Influential U emphasizes the necessity of understanding market narratives, or "The Current," to avoid getting swept away and to foster innovation. Explore the crucial areas shaping the small business landscape.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
November Cohort Now Open
 
 
APPLICATION DEADLINE — 25 OCTOBER 2024
 
 
Experience the thrill of mastering your skills and growing your business! This is your chance to dive into the IU curriculum, applying smart solutions to real-world challenges. Elevate your skills, transform theory into action, and navigate your career path with precision and confidence. Don't just watch opportunities pass by — seize them. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Positive Thinking Problem
 
 
THE SELF-ESTEEM MOVEMENT IS IN DECLINE
 
 
The self-esteem movement has shaped generations, but the results have yet to live up to its promises. Individuals raised with an overemphasis on self-esteem often face challenges in resilience and competency, unrealistic expectations, a lack of real-world preparedness, and a tendency for psychological fixation (an obsessive focus on one's inner state).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fake It or Make It?
 
 
FIRST BE BAD TO BE GOOD
 
 
For decades, the professional narrative has focused on being and acting confident, presenting a positive attitude as a fast-track solution to eliminate self-doubt and boost self-worth. This narrative has been preached in leadership development, sales training, and management skill-building.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Scratch Your Niche
 
 
THE SPECIALIZATION IMPERATIVE
 
 
The need to stand out has never been more crucial in a crowded global marketplace. Each individual must cultivate and maintain their value by developing unique skills, abilities, and solutions. This article delves into why specialization is essential, how continuous study, practice, and application contribute to personal and professional growth, and the broader implication of these efforts: your labor, value, and compensation.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Why Two Heads Are Always Better
 
 
THE ULTIMATE COLLABORATION GUIDE
 
 
If you cling to your own ideas, independence, structures, and conclusions, collaboration may seem challenging. However, embracing collaboration will ultimately liberate you. Collaboration isn't just a buzzword; it's a crucial strategy for enhancing innovation, solving complex problems, and achieving sustainable growth. The saying "Two heads are better than one" suggests that multiple perspectives can lead to remarkable outcomes. The challenge most of us face is the willingness to relinquish our grip on our view.