S2025E9 - 2026 E9 Lead with Empower Podcast

The Lead with Empower Podcast is back! Join Empower Leadership's Assistant General Manager, Zack Morello, and President, Dan Jaskot, for a variety of topics all focused on empowering and inspiring 1 Million Individuals to become positive leaders in their communities. This "experiential essentials" podcast is created by team building practitioners for individuals and teams hoping to strengthen their culture, empower individuals to become leaders, and foster a greater sense of collaboration between team members. The video discusses the idea of tackling large, overwhelming projects or goals by breaking them down into smaller, manageable tasks—a concept represented by the phrase, "How do you eat an elephant? One freaking bite at a time". The Overwhelming Nature of Challenges ● The speaker notes that groups often figure out how to start a project but fail to plan for the middle and the end. ● When faced with a complex, potentially "unachievable" task, participants often stare blankly, feeling like they cannot do it. ● The speaker emphasizes that the "fallout" happens when groups only focus on the start and then "don't ever figure out what do we do when we get close to the finish line". ● Large projects, like a full day of school, a 9-to-5 workday, or a semester of college, can become a "freaking giant project that's absolutely intimidating" and may even "paralyze people from even trying to start". ● Hesitancy prevents both accomplishment and progress, as fear of the huge task leads people to avoid it or "not do anything at all". The Power of Small Bites (One Step at a Time) ● The video encourages breaking down large goals into smaller, simpler tasks. ● Using the "Pipeline" team-building initiative as an example, Zachary Morello explains that while the bucket may be 100 yards away, success is achieved by focusing on the "inch by inch" movement of the marble through each participant's short tube. ● It is about making the most out of your 15–18 inches of length and passing the control to the next person, doing this enough times to cross the "football field". ● Taking a "small bite" makes a "world of difference" and can create a "cascading effect" of productivity. ● A speaker describes how to get back on track after an exhausting day by starting with "low-hanging fruit," such as answering a few simple emails. ● When creating a complex document, like a services agreement, it helps to start with the easiest parts first, such as the client's name, organization, and phone number. This helps build rhythm and momentum before tackling the more daunting tasks like the itinerary and pricing. Lessons from Others and Final Encouragement ● Will Smith Analogy: The actor Will Smith spoke about how you don't set out to build a whole stone wall; you lay down one stone at a time, doing it "to the best of your ability," and eventually, you'll step back and see what you've built. ● Embracing Failure: It is okay if the "small bites" don't go well initially. The more you try, the better you will get at that thing, and the bites will start adding up. ● The Make Your Bed Book: The book, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life and Maybe the World, by Admiral William McCraven, highlights that success is a compilation of all the little things done regularly. Making your bed (or another small, controllable task) can put you in the right mindset and motion to accomplish your goals for the day. ● Celebrate Small Wins: When a small task goes well, "Celebrate that little W. Celebrate that win," because it will build on itself. ● Focus on Your Journey: Do not compare your journey to others, as they will have different challenges; "ignore that. Celebrate your win and then take on the next stone, next bite, next journey, next task". Find out more at https://lead-with-empower-podcast.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast.