An Interview With Chad Silverstein
The Power of delegation and automation: I learned in my business and within my personal life that if I was going to grow, I had to learn to let go. I learned that if I continued to try to be involved in every problem, I would never be able to scale (grow) and become the best version of myself. In addition, I learned to work smarter and not harder. My executive coaches gave me automation tools that made my life so much simpler.
The competitive edge in business often comes down to a combination of strategy, foresight, and professional development. For executives looking to level up their skills, an executive coach can be their biggest asset. In this feature, we talk to business leaders who heavily invest in personal and professional development opportunities, coaching, and leadership programs. They’ll share why they invest so much and the impact it has on their life. Today, I had the privilege of speaking with Jeremy Sanford.
Jeremy Sanford is an awardwinning keynote speaker and consultant that has over 16 years of experience helping businesses scale. He led one of the largest youth departments in the U.S. for 12+ years and has inspired youth groups from all over the world. He has a passion for helping individuals and organizations grow through executive training, leadership development, and personal coaching.
Thanks for being part of this series. Let’s jump in and focus on your early years. First off, can you give us a snapshot of your life before you started your career?
Certainly! I grew up in Brandon, MS. My parents were both in the world of business. My mother was the Manager of Marketing at the post office and my father was a financial advisor. So, from a child, business has always been a part of my culture. Some would say that business and entrepreneurship is a part of my DNA. Throughout my formative years, I noticed that I was especially good at math. As a result of that interest, I decided to obtain two bachelor degrees; one in accounting and one in finance. From there, I went on to obtain my Masters in Public Accounting. While in college, I received several honors and led many different clubs. One of those clubs was the Investment Club. This club allowed students at the university to learn how to budget their money and how to wisely invest into the stock market. I was even instrumental in raising funds to allow students to travel to New York to view the New York Stock Exchange, at no cost to them. My passion has always been to help people to achieve their full potential.
What was it about personal and professional development that attracted you to start investing in yourself? Also, can you share when you started and what your first investment was?
My college years really ignited a love for learning. After college, I read a book entitled “Success Principles” by Jack Canfield. This book uncovered the powerful revelation that the best investment you can make is in yourself. That started my journey of purchasing books that sharpened my mind and my skillset. In one year of purchasing that book, I had doubled my income. Since that decision to invest in myself, I’ve made approximately one million dollars. One would think that should be enough for me. However, when you see what is possible, it creates a hunger for more. That is why even as a young professional, I still invest in myself by way of professional development and coaching. A few weeks ago, I spent thousands of dollars to connect with a coach that is helping me achieve my full potential. To some, that may seem like a sizable investment just for a conversation; but that conversation was life-changing. Professional development and coaching helps you to get insight from people that have already achieved what you are trying to accomplish. I personally believe that it is counterproductive to utilize advice from people that have not been where you are trying to go. My first investment was in 2015 when I purchased the book entitled “Success Principles” by Jack Canfield. That booked showed me the power of investing in my professional development. Currently, I have two people that are coaching and helping me to get to the next level. One of my coaches is Heather Monahan and the other is Dr. Rhonda Mattox.
Can you think back and share one of the biggest blind spots you had that someone helped you see and something specific about what you learned and how it showed up in your life?
It has always been my desire to be a paid keynote speaker, but I really did not know what it took in order to get into that industry. My coaches helped me to see that the best keynote speakers have a specialty of what they talk about. It is very easy to say that you are good at a lot of things. But in order to get paid high dollars, you need to have a very specific niche that shows that you are a top voice in that area. Through their help, I have been able to uncover that my specific niche is leadership and executive training, along with how to overcome obstacles.
How long have you had an executive coach and how would you describe your relationship?
I have been working with my current coaches for a few months now. The relationship is one in which they provide advice but also help me to think in such a way that I learn how to formulate my own solutions and become a better problem solver. When I need them, they are just one call or text away for any questions that I may have. I also meet with them weekly for about an hour to discuss how I have developed and what progress has been made. They give me assignments to complete with deadlines. I love this relationship because it provides accountability for the things that were inside of me that laid dormant for so long. I had been working on a book for years but never finished it. After one conversation with Heather Monahan, I realized that I was not as far as I thought from getting it published. Her and her team pushed me to complete it. Although they gave me until the end of the month to complete it, at this writing, I have completed it. This is the type of accountability that an executive coach can provide.
If I was sitting down with your coach, and asked “what’s the one thing your client needs to work on more than anything else in the world” what would I hear them say about you?
They would possibly say “Jeremy is a very relentless individual that wants to take the world by storm. Everything that we give him, he completes in record time. But what he could improve on is pacing himself and realizing that you can only accomplish so much in a day. We love his tenacity, and when he truly masters how to organize his busy schedule, we truly believe that there is nothing that can stop him.
If you were questioned about your “ROI” (return on investment), is there anything you can point to that justifies how much you spend on being coached? If not, how do you justify it?
When it comes to executive coaching, return on investment is so important. The way that I determined if using an executive coach is worth my investment, I didn’t just guess. I used a systematic approach to making this determination. The question that I asked myself was, will this executive training be worth 10x what I’m investing? If something allows you to make 10x what you put into it, then it is an easy answer as to whether that is a good investment. So, if you are a CEO, head of HR, or business executive that wants to develop yourself or your organization and you are trying to determine if you should get an executive coach, start with the end in mind. If you are a CEO that is making one million dollars per year and you want to go from one million dollars to two million dollars, that means you are currently trying to find a way to make an additional million dollars. If you have an executive coach that will come in and teach you the adjustments that are needed to go to the next level and acquire that additional million dollars per year, would an executive coach charging $50,000 be worth it? Don’t just guess, do the math! It would, because investing $50,000 and receiving at least 10 times the return is $500,000. Therefore, if you invested $50,000 to transform yourself and your company and help them make another million, then the investment was well worth it, and actually was provided at a discount. You have to sow a seed to reap a harvest.
Executive coaches are for CEO’s, leaders of organizations or departments, and those that refuse to remain at the same level. The type of people that hire executive coaches are highly motivated people, individuals that want more, and are not afraid of a challenge. They are those that believe that there is so much more for them to achieve.
Let’s dive into specifics. What are the top 5 things you’ve either gained or learned about yourself, where you specifically made changes, and have seen positive results. Be specific and feel free to give us either the background or story about each.
- I learned that the top executives are not satisfied with where they are, but are constantly looking for ways to improve. They are even willing to invest to become a better version of themselves. Leaders of industry will pay to be in the right room and have transformative conversations. There was a time where I wondered if investing would provide positive results that were worthwhile. But, when I began working with executive coaches, I saw an immediate increase in my confidence, productivity, and earnings. There was a quote that said “When the student is ready, the teacher arrives.” This became a true testament in my life. When I made the decision to get a coach, resources and opportunities began to come my way. People began to appear that needed my services and what I offered. That is when I knew that working with an executive coach would open the door for a whole new world of possibilities.
- Another thing that I learned was how to identify my ideal client. Sometimes we feel that we know our ideal client but we don’t. My executive coach was able to help me narrow down my ideal client and that was a game changer. This identification saves you valuable time and helps you to avoid spending unnecessary time on low-ticket clients.
- Clarity of vision: This one element is worth the entire investment by itself. Sometimes we have an idea of where we want to go but the picture of that future is quite blurry. An executive coach helps you to narrow down and clarify exactly where you want to go and why you want to go there. Before obtaining a coach, I had a general direction of where I wanted to go but it lacked a sharp definition or a structured plan. It is equivalent to having all the ingredients to create a great meal. You have your meats, your spices, your vegetables, etc. But then you put those ingredients into the hands of a Michelin-star chef. What was once separate ingredients suddenly gets transformed into masterful dishes where every flavor is brought together with intention and is formed into something that you never could have imagined. This is what an executive coach does. They take what is already inside of you and help you to create a masterpiece.
- The Power of delegation and automation: I learned in my business and within my personal life that if I was going to grow, I had to learn to let go. I learned that if I continued to try to be involved in every problem, I would never be able to scale (grow) and become the best version of myself. In addition, I learned to work smarter and not harder. My executive coaches gave me automation tools that made my life so much simpler.
- The power of accountability: I learned very quickly after get an executive coach that having plans is not what is important. The execution of those plans is what is important. An executive coach provides the accountability that you need to make sure the mission is completed. One of my coaches found out that I had written 23 chapters of my book years ago, but had never finished it due to several excuses. After our second conversation, she told me I had 30 days to complete the book. This push provided me with the fuel I needed to get it done. What made her pushing even more effective was the fact that it was coming from a person had already written two best-selling books. So, it was coming from a person that had already been where I was trying to go. In addition, my executive coach also gave me the blueprint of what she did to become a best- selling author. What more could I ask for?
What advice would you give other entrepreneurs who don’t think it’s worth investing in a coach or spending money to join a leadership program?
For the entrepreneur that is reluctant to invest because you doubt that it will be worth it, I encourage you to look at the leaders of industries. Every top billionaire and CEO invest in themselves more than anything else. They spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to help them further develop and get to the next level. Remember that success leaves clues. So, if the millionaires and billionaires find it necessary to invest in themselves, why not you? Take a page out of their playbook so that you can become a better version of yourself. Take a quick audit of your life. Have you arrived at where you want to be in life or do you feel that there is so much more?
Do you have any examples of how being coached had an impact on others who work around you? How has it spilled over to your team or your family?
Coaching has ignited an excitement that has affected my family, friends and those that I lead. They can tell how excited I am about the future and achieving my full potential as well as see the success that I am experiencing. This has also caused them to want to achieve more. It has also caused them to see the importance of having an executive coach.
There are so many executive coaches out there. How did you go about selecting the right one for you?
Quite frankly, I prayed about it, and I did thorough research. I wanted to make sure that the coaches I chose would be able to help me identify my weaknesses, hone my strengths, and unlock my true potential. After research and much prayer, I found my two coaches on LinkedIn. They have truly been a blessing from the moment we had our first conversation.
Lastly, where can our audience go to follow your journey and perhaps get inspired to make their own investment in coaching?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-sanford-mpa-2120a757/
Thank you so much for joining us! We wish you only success.
About the Interviewer: Chad Silverstein is a seasoned entrepreneur and Thought Leader with over 25 years of business experience. He has founded, operated, and exited multiple companies and now builds into a handful of high impact CEOs. Chad has launched multiple online communities, including a recent leadership development platform, and also serves as a strategic advisor for Authority Magazine’s thought-leader incubator program.
To learn more and connect with Chad visit: chadsilverstein.io
Jeremy Sanford On An Inside Look at the Benefits and Impact Of Working With an Executive Coach was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.