Episode 89: Physical Toughness, Mental Strength, and Business Acumen

Today we celebrate all American workers who have contributed to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. Happy Labor Day! And Thank You!

Cindy Banchy, a Master Franchisor of Vanguard Cleaning Systems of Minnesota and Ironman athlete, is one of those extraordinary and humble leaders you want to know and learn from. She attributes her work ethic and the spirit of freedom in entrepreneurship to her father and being raised on a dairy farm in Wisconsin. Her three brothers have carried on the dairy farm tradition by growing their herd of dairy cows to over 3,000. Podcast Download

How has Cindy developed her physical toughness, mental strength, and business acumen to achieve extraordinary goals? How is she a pioneer? 

I think Cindy has taken the concept of Reverse Salient we’ve been learning about from Dan Prosser over the last couple of weeks, and applied it to herself and how she lives and leads. By setting audacious goals physically, she sets in motion her next skillsets to learn. The self-analysis begins with her finding out her physical shortcomings and mental gaps she will need to overcome to achieve her goal. The application of skills she learns is directly applied in how she leads her franchisees.

The more meaningful conversations I entertain and entrepreneurial leaders I mentor, I recognize the connections between the courage to face oneself and the need to spiritually evolve by putting oneself on the line over and over, and over again. The bar inching upwards as failure hovers under the surface, the demons lurking below. The curiosity to find out what we are made of, the tinkering, the overcoming of barriers embedded in the lives we lead makes us better leaders and bigger contributors in our society. We need to keep going. We need to figure out how to work with teams of people. We need to find out what others are made of. We need to do more. We need to bring out our greater selves and see what happens.

Learn the details of Cindy’s life to understand innovative leadership on a deeper level. How does Door County fit into our conversation? IBM? Boy Scout Leadership? What led her to become a Master Franchisor at age 40 and licensing 75 franchisees? Cindy’s eclectic interests and voracious desire to learn, take risks, and explore the world led her to learn how to run, swim, bike, and compete in her first Triathlon at age 51. How are you adding adventure and taking calculated risks to bring more meaning into your life? Find out how she mustered up courage.

Glean ideas in goalsetting so you can become your best self or increase your physical toughness, mental strength, and expand your business acumen. Going inward and identifying precise gaps within yourself is a good thing. Get curious to learn more about you and how you can lead with more strength and courage.

Mentoring Tips for Listeners

After you listen:

  • Carve out a new set of goals. Think in terms of what could help you:
    o Develop physical strength,
    o Increase your mental stamina, and
    o Create the next layer of business acumen.
  • Once your audacious goals are determined, do a self-analysis. You may need insight from others who have already achieved the goals you set. Identify the gaps you will need to overcome to achieve your goals.
  • Decide how you will build a routine around your goals. Start acting upon them.
  • Check out the Mentoring Conversation Resources below.

Physical Toughness, Mental Strength, and Business Acumen, Episode 89                   Vanguard Cleaning of Minnesota

Resources

Podcast Guest Mentor

Cindy Banchy. Cindy grew-up on a farm in Wisconsin and she learned two things: how to work hard and how to be an entrepreneur. After 16 years at IBM, she wanted to give others the same chance she had to better their lives so she purchased a Vanguard Cleaning Systems of Minnesota. Through the franchise, she gives hard working lower income individuals and immigrants the opportunity to apply their work ethic in building a cleaning franchise. “It is amazing to watch them take a very humble business, cleaning, and turn it into an opportunity for their families to better their lives,” she says.

Vanguard Minnesota is ranked second among 65 Vanguard locations for revenue growth. This is particularly noteworthy as all but one of the other Vanguard offices are male-dominated. As a female business owner, Cindy works hard to not only give her franchisees opportunities but engages her internal staff in creating a solid culture of curiosity, innovation, and focus on the customer.

Cindy enjoys the outdoors. For years she was the committee chair of a boy scout troop which traveled on high adventures all over the country. Her two sons were Eagle Scouts. After her sons graduated and moved on with their lives, Cindy needed something challenging to keep herself outside and moving. Alas, her next opportunity. At age 51 she started competing in Triathlons.

Cindy started with the YWCA women’s sprint. It took her six months to figure out how to do the free style for the 500-yard swim, run 3 miles and bike faster than 12 miles an hour. After she crossed the finish line of her first Triathlon, she was hooked! She gradually took on greater distances resulting in competing in the 2015 Ironman. Now the three sports and competing are a way of life. The physical strength, mental endurance, discipline, focus, endurance, team, and competition are now part of her business formula for success.

Episode 89: Physical Toughness, Mental Strength, and Business Acumen

Nancy A. Meyer, M.A.
Author: Nancy A. Meyer, M.A.

Nancy A. Meyer, M.A., is a seasoned entrepreneurial leader, business and life mentor/coach/teacher, podcaster, author, and certified mindfulness yoga and meditation integrator (she integrates those skill sets into everything). Nancy’s compassionate and collaborative approach reinforces resilience while maintaining accountable conversations supporting how you redefine your lead while redesigning your business. Nancy calls this “Dual Innovation Leadership.”   Nancy founded WeMentor, inc. in 1992 to change the leadership in our country by providing emerging and existing business owners with mentoring in Dual Innovation Leadership. She has mentored thousands and is eager to work with you! Assert self-leadership and get started today! Clients say, “Nancy is a compelling, engaging, and ‘decipher the trees from the forest’ kind of mentor, speaker, and leader. A dedicated entrepreneurial leader and mentor who role models what she preaches. Her style and candor enrich the content she delivers and the results clients experience.” Nancy accepts people where they are while inspiring them to breakthrough into new dimensions:  As an Entrepreneurial Leader (Innovator),  As a Competent Business Owner (Practitioner)  As a Mentor (Role Model)  As a Spiritual Being and Self-Leadership Master! Start by subscribing to WeMentor Mondays with Nancy PODCAST. Join your peers and...

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