How are you earning your growth today?

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What comes to mind when you hear the word “inherited?” Perhaps a silver spoon or the family farm? I am drawn to the word “inherited” to describe Matt Norman‘s role as President of his family’s Dale Carnegie franchise because of this descriptor: “to receive genetic character.”

I’ve been watching Matt’s character grow over the past several years and that’s why he is the opening speaker for the 2013 Fall Good Leadership Breakfast Series.

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If you join us, you will see and hear how he is earning his own growth in his inherited position:  “The only thing that makes me uncomfortable about references to inheriting a business started by my grandfather is the perception that “Dale Carnegie” is a tired, aging brand,” Matt explains. “Honestly, that provides me with motivation to refine and shape what Dale Carnegie means to leaders today.”

Last year, Matt was named to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal 40 Under Forty list, recognizing the community’s top young business and civic leaders. He has created double-digit revenue growth over the past two years and the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal named Dale Carnegie Training Minnesota a top small company in its Best Places to Work awards for the third year in a row.

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Matt is an obvious role model because of his intense commitment to goodness in all his endeavors, personally and professionally. Today, he is sharing that insight very effectively in his Norman Views blog.  Last week’s post about the birthday of his six year-old-twins demonstrates his depth and passion for living and leading the good life.

He and I recently co-sponsored an exciting piece of research called: How Leaders Grow Today. Our findings will be front and center in his remarks on Friday, and how he shapes the strategy for growing the Dale Carnegie brand.  Get your executive summary here.

Here’s a sample of what you can expect to hear over breakfast: “I’m so grateful for this opportunity…the more I learn about the modern thought leaders – the more I hear the same themes of Dale Carnegie repeated over and over again. What I’ve learned from my grandfather and my dad is that we share a responsibility – and opportunity – to go to market in new and different ways to help the words “Dale Carnegie” mean something powerful in the hearts and minds of modern leaders and organizations,” he shares. “And that’s why I’m so inspired about the central message in the How Leaders Grow Today project!”

Good leaders make a habit of honoring the trust of those who give us opportunity.  And we seize the opportunity to leverage the gift of today to earn our own growth.

Will you accept my invitation to meet Matt Norman over breakfast this Friday?[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]