As part of our series, today’s episode of The Small Business Show features three more chapters from the book Elevate Your Excellence: The Power of Doing Ordinary Things Extraordinarily Well. We’re joined by the Author, Dave Anderson. Dave is also a Speaker, host of the wildly popular podcast The Game Changer Life, and President of LearnToLead. His insights offer valuable lessons for leaders, managers, and anyone striving to reach their full potential.
Anderson’s interview focuses on pivotal concepts from his book, including the importance of challenging yourself, holding yourself accountable, and maintaining consistency in both work and personal life.
He explains that the key to unlocking greater success lies in overcoming the “negativity bias,” a natural tendency to shy away from discomfort and risk. He emphasized that while it’s easy to become comfortable with success, real growth happens when you push past the wall that complacency creates.
In addition, Anderson also stressed the need for leaders to challenge their teams more and avoid under-challenging, which he sees as a form of “cheating” that deprives people of their potential.
According to Anderson, accountability is crucial, and shortening the gap between action and accountability helps prevent bad habits from forming. He also discussed his EdMed philosophy — “Every Day Means Every Day” — urging listeners to maintain consistency in their actions, whether in the gym or at work, regardless of how they feel.
This mindset helps people break through barriers, build credibility, and transform their results into lasting success.
On the other hand, Anderson stresses that managers should refrain from pushing employees too hard. He reminds leaders that employees ultimately respect and grow from constructive criticism/challenges. Therefore, Anderson asserts that great leadership involves drawing out the best in others by constantly holding them to high standards.
“At the end of your career, no one is ever going to look at you and say, ‘Hey, thanks for pampering me, thanks for being easy on me to change my life.’ That's not going to happen.”
