Meet Tod Meisner

 

We recently connected with Tod Meisner and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tod, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.

My optimism has isn’t derived from a single source, but I have learned how to channel it through various tools/resources over the years. I’ve always tried to be a friendly and optimistic person. I was raised by parents who always taught us how to deal with the ups and downs in life and to be thankful for all that you have. But as you grow to be an adult and raise your own family, that can sometimes be tough. In my mid 30s after I had gone through some challenging moments in life, I took a leadership course based on the book “The 100x Leader” and it radically changed my life. It unlocked in me self-awareness that I wasn’t aware I was capable of harnessing. That self-awareness has allowed me to lead and grow in a way that’s bult on confidence and optimism.

Building on that, around the same time I watched the documentary “Minimalism” by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus and then read their book “Everything that Remains” and I began to practice minimalism. Well, as best as a married father of 2 sons can be a minimalist. But, it’s just as much a mindset as it is about clutter and the mindset is greatly based on loving people and using things. With that, there’s constant reminder about what truly matter and what should truly make you happy.

So, using those two major tools as a grown man in my 40s, I have been able to remain ruthlessly optimistic in the face of some trying times.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

Currently, I work for State Farm Corporate Communications as a Sr. Analyst. In my role as Sr. Analyst, I’m responsible for identifying and improving the brand’s communications goals to drive business and communication efficiencies. What I enjoy about this role is serving as an internal consultant for State Farm communicators.

They are very talented, but often get hung up in the tactics and the things they’ve always done. My team’s role is to help them think more strategically and more “big picture.” I’m a “nurturer” and “people-focused” person and professional at heart, so helping people look good and do their jobs better is very fun and rewarding.

In addition to my day-to-day duties for State Farm, I teach undergraduate and graduate level classes for Auburn University, Arizona State University, West Virginia University, the University of Florida, and New York University (NYU). The courses focus on social media campaigns and engagement for public relations as well as, branding, advertising, and digital marketing.

My teaching philosophy focuses entirely on ensuring student-centric success. The main goal of my instructions and interactions are to serve as a mentor, guide, and facilitator of knowledge to my students.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1. Know Yourself to Lead Yourself
2. Brilliant in the Basics – Consistency over time
3. Be Relational NOT Transactional

The more self-aware you are, the more you know yourself, the better you will be able to lead yourself and others. It’s simple and yet a transformational way of thinking

Being brilliant in the basics means that even though showing up and grinding every day isn’t glamorous, showing that consistency over time will pay off in the end. Progress > Perfection.

The last point speaks to many facets in life, but don’t treat interactions and moments in life as transactions. As a way to gain something. If it is approached and treated as relationship building or as a way to learn more about yourself or someone else, it will produce many more benefits than just a simple transaction.

My advice for those early in their journey and what I often tell my students is to consume the items that have helped me. 100x Leader, Minimalism, etc. That said, here’s a list of books/resources that I always recommend:

The 100x Leader
Love People Use Things
Everything that Remains
Radical Candor
Atomic Habits
Master of Change
The Practice of Groundedness

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

The 100x Leader and the course I took along with it were transformational for me.
Know Yourself to Lead Yourself

1. A commitment to understand how you’re wired, the tendencies that result from such wiring, and the impact those tendencies have on others.
2. A commitment to change your negative tendencies in order to become the best person and leader you can be.

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