John Bates

Executive Speaking Success

John Bates​‘​ mission is to bring out what is awesome inside you, so you can have the impact you want to have on the world. 

John is an in-demand Leadership Communications Expert, Executive Coach, Author, and Keynote Speaker. He is also one of the most prolific TED format coaches in the world. Executives from organizations like Johnson & Johnson’s JLABS, NASA (including the Astronauts), US Navy Special Operations, Boston Scientific, and more recommend him to their colleagues as the best leadership communications coach working today. He knows the power that creating a TED-like talk can bring to anyone - in business and life. 

John is also an in-demand pitch coach. He supports many accelerator programs and organizations including Johnson & Johnson Innovations JLABS, The Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge, ION Houston Accelerator, Starburst Aerospace Accelerator, and more. He has assisted clients in winning million-dollar pitch competitions, raising millions in VC, winning millions in grant money, and more. 

John shares his long experience as an entrepreneur / successful fundraiser, along with important company culture principles for your success.

John designs all of his programs using principles derived from neurobiology, so YOUR COMMUNICATION ​is as​ MIGHTY​ as YOUR IDEAS​.

CEO/Founder

Goldstar Events, Inc.

Responsible for working directly with the CEO on public speaking, media training, speech and presentation writing, and all aspects of 'in person' messaging.

Speaking & Messaging Coach

TED Conferences

Previous license holder for TEDxSantaMonica where we did salon events to create community which were dedicated to furthering the TED mission of sharing “ideas worth spreading” by organizing regular events • Create & deliver educational programs to teach TEDx speakers how to create and deliver TED-Worthy presentations •  Perform as the speaker coach for numerous TEDx events including TEDxAFC (America's Finest City: San Diego), TEDxSanDiego, TEDxHoboken,TEDxVilnius, TEDxFulbright, TEDxTaiz • Speak at TEDx events including TEDxWoodsHole, TEDxMonterey, TEDxHoboken, TEDxLex, TEDxTaiz, TEDxVilnius • Hosted and co-Hosted numersous TEDx events including TEDxSantaMonica, TEDxPCC (Pasadena Community College), TEDxVeniceBeach, and many more, the SupporTED Collaboratorium to support the TED Fellows and current TED Fellows Coach • Developed partnerships with local businesses along with the TEDxSantaMonica team • Manage team of dedicated & brilliant volunteers • Evangelize the TED & TEDx organization.

TEDx Volunteer Organizer

MindArk PE AB

John is responsible for business development and public relations initiatives throughout North America. As the US representative, John speaks with the media and at conferences and other events for Mindark and the Entropia Universe all over the Americas and the Pacific Rim. John creates and executes marketing strategies,  generates business partnerships, and expands Entropia's reach to a new and greater population of gamers and virtual world enthusiasts.  John oversees overall US business development for the Entropia Virtual World Platform, negotiates potential alliances, brand development, and more.

Platform Evangelist & Strategic Marketing

MEME Dispersal Unit. LLC

MDU offers Memetic Marketing, Brand Advocacy, and Sales. MDU offers a nationwide network of student influencers and opinion leaders, and years of deep experience with the market. Clients include: Goldstar Events, Altadena, CA, successfully opened the Bay Area market and was asked to move to Altadena and join the company for approximately a year to open several key regions. Expression Center for New Media in Emeryville, CA where MDU created and implemented an extremely successful and ongoing outreach program; BIGGERWORDS.com, Annapolis, MD where MDU developed and guides a large network of student marketers; Anarchy Online, Oslo Norway, MDU created/executed several successful marketing campaigns, one of which brought the computer network at MIT to its knees due to the demand created by MDU.

Owner

WemoMedia

I spread the word about our underwater ocean experience project and brought in partners by speaking at conferences, talking with the press, direct outreach and relationship building and networking.

Evangelist for theBlu

Finch, Evolutionary Search

We manage your adwords buys and accomplish substantial savings while increasing your desirable traffic tremendously. Let's talk. 
Finch brings together many of the rapidly developing opportunities online - cloud computing, Web 2.0/3.0 API/data integrations, search portal infrastructure, and open source - to solve a big problem for online advertisers in a disruptive way. Be on the right side of this disruption!

Sales

FileDBA.com

John consulted on all business activities including website development, partnerships and marketing.

Consultant

Renewable Hydrogen Foundation

Was recruited by the Renewable Hydrogen Foundation to create, launch and manage the RHF membership program.  Main duties included managing website development, membership program development, bookstore functions, Public Relations and messaging, and public speaking engagements. Met or exceeded milestones, however RHF lost funding for 2006.

Director of Marketing and Membership

Initially working as a consultant, was recruited by Goldstar Events launch and manage SF Bay Area, signed up over 100 venues.  Relocated to lead explosive growth into new markets from company headquarters. Expanded leadership responsibilities beyond the Bay Area to include, San Diego, Las Vegas and Chicago Regions. Main duties included sourcing clients, negotiating, and closing Goldstar Events partner relationships. Regularly exceeded expectations by closing more venues in less time than aggressive goals required. Consistently exceeded goals and broke monthly sales records. 
https://www.goldstarevents.com/splash?p=F5881N

Director of Venue Relations

Get my Mini-Trainings for Free ↙️ | Message me the word "COMMUNICATE" to 10X your Speaking Ability | Leadership Communication Expert | Speaker | Trainer | Executive Coach | CEO

Over 15+ years, I have worked with some huge brands, such as:

> TEDx
> NASA
> US Navy EOD
> Johnson & Johnson

All whilst coaching leaders who aim to make a global impact for good.

I've seen that today's business world is tough:

> A lack of confidence can impact your success.
> Communication within the leadership team is vital.
> Leaders need high quality speaking and presentation skills.

What if you could:

> Have more impact on the world.
> Become a far better speaker and presenter.
> Convey your message to leave a lasting impact.
> Lead a more influential, effective, and ultimately successful life.

We're all about turning these challenges into wins by:

> Leadership communications training.
> Executive Coaching and "Executive Whisperer" techniques.
> Public speaking and presentation coaching, especially in the TED format.
> Individual and team coaching for effective communication and leadership.
> Online and in-person training courses in public speaking, pitching, presenting, leadership, and teamwork.

Here are some of our results over the years:

✅  “He is extremely knowledgeable in how to connect with audiences and he has a relaxed approach that can be tailored to any group’s needs.” - Austin Knight - CEO - Air Liquide USA

✅  “That knowledge from John has completely changed how I present today…and we got great feedback after the talk. So, it’s working!” - Stephanie Venn Watson - Co Founder and CEO - Epitracker

✅  “He not only brings out the best in you when you talk, but he looks inside your soul when he does it.” - Melinda Richter - Head of Johnson & Johnson

All through revealing the secrets of human evolutionary biology and human neurophysiology that govern effective communication, persuasion, and influence.

If you want to see how I could help you, shoot me a message saying ‘Speak’.

Every small interaction shapes how people see you. 
 
In public speaking and life, the little things matter most.
 
Every conversation, every comment, every interaction, builds your reputation.
 
That’s your invisible PR quietly working for or against you.
 
When you’re kind, curious, and respectful, you’re not just being nice, you’re building trust and connection.
 
Those little moments add up, whether you’re speaking on stage, leading a team, or just chatting with someone.
 
On the flip side, there’s unkindness. That’s like a massive tax on your talent.
 
A dismissive word or lack of attention can chip away at the opportunities you’ve worked so hard for.
 
The best speakers and leaders know it’s not just the big presentations that matter.
 
It’s the habits and interactions behind the scenes.
 
They’re what make people listen, trust, and show up for you.
 
And Usain Bolt’s actions in the video below are proof that the small moments can have a huge impact. 

When I first watched this video I cried, because I've been the "not Usain Bolt" person in these interactions and it makes me want to be sure that when I'm on the other side I am this caring and generous. 
 
You also have the ability to make your invisible PR work for you.
 
All it takes is one kind interaction at a time.

Is there someone in your life who has been "Usain Bolt" for you? Give them a shoutout in the comments and let them know you noticed! 
 
Video credit: Dan Abrahams.

Great Leaders Become Great Speakers With Me via Team & Individual Training & Keynotes | Helped 12,000+ Clients Become TED-Worthy Communicators | 92+ Net Promoter

🎙️ New Episode Coming This Week!

#132 — Making Your Message Stick in a Noisy World with Jennifer Kaplan ✨

This week, I’m joined by Jennifer Kaplan — PR powerhouse, media strategist, and founder/CEO of Evolve PR & Marketing, the largest firm of its kind in Arizona.

Jennifer and I dive into what truly makes a message resonate — and what real leadership looks like beyond business success. From the power of giving back to mastering on-camera presence, Jennifer shares hard-earned wisdom from decades in PR and crisis communication.

We also talk about earned media, visibility, vulnerability, and why the most “authentic” pros rehearse more than anyone else.

👉 Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Link in the comments 👇

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The first time I coached leaders at NASA and Johnson & Johnson, I braced myself, but what happened next surprised me.

These were people at the top of their fields. Brilliant scientists. High-ranking executives. The kind of leaders whose decisions shape industries, even nations.

I’ll be honest… part of me expected them to have their walls up. I even thought there would be some resistance. But what I found surprised me.

Instead of resistance, I was met with curiosity.
Instead of defensiveness, I was met with openness.

These leaders weren’t just willing to be coached, they were some of the most coachable people I’d ever met.

One example that comes to mind is my friend, Dolph Lundgren.

As an actor, Dolph knows what it’s like to take direction.

He understands the value of someone standing outside the frame, a director guiding him to bring out his best performance.

And that same humility shows up in great leaders.

It dawned on me: of course they’re coachable.

That’s how they got there in the first place!

The best leaders are brilliant at what they do.

But they also know the power of letting someone else guide them, sharpen them, and help them see what they can’t see themselves.

And that realization changed how I see leadership at the highest levels.

Over the years, I’ve learned that coachability isn’t subservience.

It’s the quiet superpower of the world’s best leaders.

I’ve seen this trait in my dad and every great leader I know.

It completely changed how I think about leadership 👇

The best leaders I’ve met aren’t great at everything, they surround themselves with people who are.

But what really sets them apart is how they treat those people.

When things go wrong, they step forward and take responsibility.

When things go right, they step back and give credit where it’s due.

Watching them over the years, I’ve realised this isn’t just good character, it’s good science.

Our brains are wired with mirror neurons.

We subconsciously reflect the people we look up to.

So when a leader owns mistakes and celebrates others, their team starts doing the same.

- Accountability spreads.
- Trust deepens.
- And the entire culture changes.

That’s what I’ve seen from my dad, my mentor RB Hackenberg and leaders like Melinda Richter at Johnson & Johnson Innovation JLABS.

👉  This week, look around you.

Are you surrounded by people who lift you higher and are you lifting them too?

You spend 99% of your time performing… working hard... producing...

But it’s the other 1% that actually decides your success.

That 1%? It’s when people see you in action.

Here’s what I mean:

YIPE = Your Impression = Performance × Exposure.

We all obsess over performance… the late nights, the prep, the extra effort.

But exposure?

That’s the moment you speak up in a meeting, brief the board, or deliver a killer 
presentation.

And that moment multiplies your hard work. For better or for worse.

You can have a million-dollar performance, but if no one gets it, you’ll look like a $50k idea.

But that doesn’t have to be the case.

Want people to feel your impact?

You need a solid performance x great exposure.

Remember, your work doesn’t speak for itself.

You do.

👉 Follow me for more content like this.
♻️ Share this post with your network today.

Kristian Livolsi

Business Growth Mindset

At the Business Growth Mindset we help business owners and c-suite executives flourish and grow. 

We work with highly driven top performers to create meaningful change that impact their business and life through mastering a growth mindset and implementing systems and processes that support scaling.

By applying core principles, you can eliminate many business related frustrations.  You can have great employees who share your vision, communicate with one another, demonstrate accountability and solve problems. You will not only create a business that runs seamlessly, but you will also grow your business.

This is for anyone who wants more freedom, more time and more control.

Business and Growth Advisor

We help businesses go from good to great by (structuring your "fruit salad brain", so you can see your path clearly and predictably) creating market dominating, competitor crushing strategies. We help you and your team be accountable so they can execute and deliver on time.

Most business owners succumb to three problems when running their business.

🤦‍♀️ Uncertainty and Rudderless
🤦 Stagnation
🤦🏾‍♀️ Dependency on self (key Person Risk)

These three problems lead to distraction, procrastination and confusion which means the circumstances begin to govern your outcomes when in fact it’s the decisions you make that determine your outcome not the circumstances you are in.

Having been involved in 80 ventures I discovered that failure and success leave clues. For a business to succeed and create freedom for you the owner it requires…

👉 Strategy - Focus, clarity and direction
🙋‍♀️ Performance and Results
📚 Education and Accountability

Once you master these three areas you will achieve predictable results.

We created Growth School on the countless lessons I learned along both the practitioner and academic  journey and evolved the program from the lessons learned from our clients.

Our community are empowered, caring and driven business owners.

Growth School

This is much more than a course it's an all in sales and marketing coaching program for business owners wanting to grow their business to $1M in revenue.  Customers On Demand provides you with the power of a structured, strategic approach to your business growth—one that transforms leads into revenue and revenue into long-term success.

At its core, this program is about building you a sustainable, scalable system for attracting, converting, and closing high-quality leads. It strips away your guesswork, the trial-and-error, and the feast-or-famine cycle that you struggle with, replacing it with a proven blueprint for your consistent business growth.

Key Transformations You Will Experience:

👉 Clarity Over Chaos: Instead of chasing random marketing tactics, you will learn how to implement a lead-generation system that delivers results.

👉 Control Over Revenue: By mastering sales funnels, messaging, and direct outreach, you’ll no longer rely on luck or referrals—you’ll create predictable income.

👉 Confidence in Selling: Selling will no longer feel like an awkward or pushy process for you. You will develop the skills to guide prospects seamlessly from interest to investment.

👉 A Business That Works for You: Instead of being trapped in the cycle of inconsistent cash flow, you will build a machine that generates leads and revenue—on demand.

👉 Mindset Mastery: Success isn’t just about tactics; it’s about cultivating the mindset of a leader who executes relentlessly and adapts strategically.

The ultimate value of this program is that it gives you a repeatable framework—one that, when followed and mastered, will allow you to generate leads, close more deals, and build a business that is profitable, predictable, and powerful.

It’s not just about making money—it’s about having control over your growth, your time, and your future.

DM me COD and we will send you the details.

Customers On Demand

An Introduction to a Business Growth Mindset asks the questions that will get you thinking about what you need to focus on in order to take your business to the next level.

Drawing on the lessons that he has learned, Kristian presents a straight-talking, no-nonsense guide to creating the business growth mindset that will give you the confidence and skills to take your business to new heights.

Author | An Introduction to a Business Growth Mindset

The Business Growth Mindset podcast, by Kristian Livolsi, is dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs and business owners to achieve extraordinary growth and profitability. Each week, we delve into critical aspects of business from strategic planning to operational efficiency, leadership, and beyond. Kristian offers actionable advice, shares invaluable frameworks, and provide insights through case studies to help businesses thrive in an ever-evolving landscape.

Sample Weekly Topics and Insights:

	•	Strategic Innovation: How to outthink your competition and pioneer market changes.
	•	Leadership Excellence: Cultivating a culture that inspires loyalty and drives performance.
	•	Operational Agility: Streamlining processes to enhance efficiency and responsiveness.
	•	Financial Foresight: Mastering cash flow management for sustained growth.
	•	Talent Optimisation: Best practices in hiring, training, and retention to build talent.
	•	Customer Centricity: Techniques for enhancing customer engagement and maximizing lifetime 
                 value.

The podcast is designed for business owners and entrepreneurs, the crazy ones, the believers, the doers, the clever makers, the action takers and everyone else in-between. 

Drawing on the lessons that he has experienced and learned, Kristian Livolsi presents a straight talking, no nonsense podcast that will give you an insight into his very own growth mindset and provide you with the confidence and skills to take your business to new heights.

Subscribe today and listen up.  Podcast is available in Spotify, Apple Podcast and Youtube. 

We love feedback so please don’t hesitate to contact us at hello@kristianlivolsi.com.au

Podcast Host

Motivate Kids - Occupational Therapy

Motivate Kids provides tailored occupational therapy for children of all ages. We create a warm, welcoming space where your child can explore, flourish and be supported to grow and unlock their greatest potential. We support families holistically, nurturing parents along the journey of reaching their child's specific goals to unlock their fullest potential.

WE SUPPORT CHILDREN OF ALL ABILITIES TO LIVE THEIR BEST LIVES
Motivate Kids understands the importance of early intervention and the value of empowering the child and their parent-carer in their therapy journey. We believe OT offers a pivotal and life changing role in a child's development.

Chair

Argentum Ligno

We help 7 figure business become 8 figure business. 

Through our proven strategic frameworks, systems and processes we drive clarity and direction that improves performance and creates growth. 
We help identify the unknown and unspoken problems and opportunities. 
We help identify what is good in the organisation and build a plan on how we make it great and replicate for growth and scale. 
We help find new and better ways to do things from the experience of helping over 1000 customers, across 98 industries in 19 countries. 

We specialise in;

‣ Business Advisory - Strategy | Structure | Management | Operations 
‣ Stakeholder Management
‣ Leadership and Culture
‣ Growth, Scale and Exit

If you need a winning strategy to take your business to the next level get in touch today.

Managing Partner

Growth Outsourced

Our core purpose is Outsourced Growth

Our core mission is to drive digital media engagement that makes a difference by transforming our customer's brand, our people and our future.

Our Core Values
•	Family first – all people matter 
•	We get things done 
•	Victor mentality 
•	Taking responsibility and being accountable 
•	Discipline executed excellently 

Our Core Competencies
•	Done for you - attraction, engagement and conversations 
•	Smarter together through great culture and our global community
•	Cost with certainty with proven systems and processes, refinement and action 
•	Brave with a can-do attitude

Managing Director

Lift Cancer Care Services

Receiving a cancer diagnosis means more than just getting chemo. Side effects commonly arise during treatment which requires extra support. Lift is a centre that provides evidence-based programs to help you get through your cancer treatment in better shape – physically & mentally.

Exercise medicine | Lymphoedema Screening | Pain Specialists | Physiotherapy | Psychology | Speech Therapy | Body composition | Dietetics 

We are a registered and practicing Day Hospital.

Bowhill Engineering

Bowhill Engineering is an innovative structural steel engineering firm with specialist capability in large complex steel structures.

Founded in the early 1970s, for over 40 years Bowhill has developed an enviable track record for project delivery. Their reputation is built on:

    👉 Specialising in large complex structural steel
    👉 Being easy to do business with
    👉 Offering a collaborative problem-solving approach
    👉 High capability for developing innovative solutions
    👉 Track record for delivery on time and with high quality
    👉 Price competitiveness

Bowhill is widely recognised for excelling at technical challenges. Their collaborative approach draws together project stakeholders reducing the risk profile to ensure successful outcomes. Their geographic location suits their core competencies and allows efficient transport anywhere in Australia.

Bowhill employs a stable workforce of 50+ highly specialised staff, this strengthens their community and provides the ability to deliver world-class innovative solutions for their clients. The firm delivers millions worth of landmark projects annually.

Bowhill leads the way with its integrated systems and professionalism, focused on specialising in a very specific niche in the construction market.

Regarded as experts in complex & heavy structural steel fabrication, particularly larger components. Bowhill has deliberately developed its core competency which has allowed them to highly develop its skills. 

Bowhill’s target markets include government infrastructure, mining, water, defence and commercial building - Bowhill Engineering has successfully completed many critically important projects for these industries.

Innovation in the City

Launch Adelaide Inc. trading as Innovation In The City is a community of innovators and entrepreneurs in the business community of Adelaide.

An independent, not for profit private sector-led network that fundamentally believes that Adelaide has a number of untapped opportunities for innovation, talent, and business growth.  Partnering with a number of private sector and government firms we provide a forum to bring together the community to Connect, Collaborate and Converse on all range of business topics. We run a number of key events as well as smaller focussed forums to ensure we are at the forefront of innovation in Adelaide.

South Australian Biofuels Pty Ltd

SA Biofuels build and run facilities which allow farmers and communities to produce their own fuel from locally grown crops. Farmers can grow oil seed crops on fallow and non productive land which can be turned into biodiesel  reducing their fuel costs and reducing carbon emissions.

Over the last 10+ years, South Australian Biofuels have developed and commercialised new ways to manufacture biodiesel with minimum energy, using on 15W of power to make 1L of fuel. Our new system is fully containerised for use on farms in regional areas.

South Australian Biofuels believes that everyone has the opportunity to manage their own fuel security and be self-sufficient. South Australian Biofuels and the Bio-ULTRA can help make this a reality.

34MJ Pty Ltd

We supply turnkey bioenergy solutions. 

Our major customers are Farmers, Rural Communities, Governments and Mining Companies.

Our unique and exclusive offering of biodiesel equipment allows organisations to reduce their diesel costs by 50%, reduce their impact on climate change with the reduction of CO2 emissions and improve shareholder returns.

Media Sociale

Media Sociale was founded in 2015 and started its journey as a digital agency and web development firm. Specialising in social media, SEO, AdWords and websites. Over the years it evolved into a strategic marketing advisory firm specialising in digital media and branding.

Our core services are digital and marketing advisory, training and strategy. We empower owners, marketing managers and companies to take control of their digital assets and establish systems and processes for them to handle the communication in house and teach them to understand the principles of mental and physical availability.

My role is principal strategy advisor. 

I look forward to creating, innovating and shaping the products and services of our clients.

Director

Business Strategist and Growth Advisor | Author | Podcast Host | Leader

At Growth School, we help business owners not just survive, but thrive. We’re for the action-takers, the misunderstood, and those who defy the corporate mould. We have served 1366 clients across 98 industries in 19 countries.  Our current clients are generating $98,345,586 in revenue for FYE24, we know what it takes to double your revenue, 5X your profit, and slash your working hours in half, year on year.

What We Offer:

	1.	Strategic Frameworks that dominate markets and crush competitors, providing clarity and 
                 focus.
	2.	Personalized Advice tailored to your unique challenges and opportunities.
	3.	Predictable Results for consistent growth, performance, and wealth creation.
	4.	Accountability for you and your team to ensure goals are met efficiently.
	5.	Resilience to navigate any business climate with ease.

Our Promise:
We’ve been where you are—overwhelmed, under-resourced, and unsure. After 25 years of real-world experience, an MBA, and crafting a proven framework that has helped me with 80 investments (44 successful exits), we’re ready to elevate your business. Our framework has been battle-tested in the toughest environments, ensuring it can withstand any challenge your business faces.

Commit to Transformation:
Are decision paralysis, a lack of strategic insight, or merely the comfort of mediocrity holding you back? Let’s change that. Book a quick 15-minute FIT call, we’ll discuss your needs, challenges, and goals. We don’t promise a money-back guarantee, but we do offer a “love it or leave” guarantee after three months. You have nothing to lose except the chains holding you back.

Book Your Call:
This isn’t just another consultation. It’s the first step to unlocking your business’s potential. Join us at Growth School and start your journey from good to great. Are you ready to transform your business?

DM me with "Growth" 

Let’s make mediocrity a thing of the past and turn your business into a powerhouse.

Welcome to a Business Growth Mindset Podcast, hosted by Kristian Livolsi. 

The podcast is designed for business owners and entrepreneurs, the crazy ones, the believers, the doers, the clever makers, the action takers and everyone else in-between. 

The weekly podcast shines a spotlight on what business owners and executives need to focus on in order to take their organisation to the next level. 

Drawing on the lessons that he has experienced and learned, Kristian Livolsi presents a straight talking, no nonsense podcast that will give you an insight into his very own growth mindset and provide you with the confidence and skills to take your business to new heights.

Subscribe today and listen up.  Podcast is avaliable in Spotify, Apple Podcast and Youtube. 

We love feed so please don’t hesitate to contact us hello@kristianlivolsi.com.au 

Spreading yourself thin is killing your business faster than any competitor. 🎯

You're chasing every opportunity, building multiple capabilities, and achieving mediocrity everywhere.

Jim Collins proved that great companies ignore 90% of opportunities and dominate ONE thing relentlessly.

In this week's Business Life newsletter, I reveal the three-circle framework that creates strategic clarity and breakthrough performance.

Want to learn how to stop being distracted by shiny objects and start dominating your niche?

Read the full newsletter below👇

li_at

JSESSIONID

Security Verification | LinkedIn

(9) James Powers | LinkedIn

Strategist | Entrepreneur | Growth Architect | Helping Founders Scale from $1M to $10M+ | Founder of Growth School | Best Selling Author | Investor

You're building a business without knowing why, and it's killing your potential. 🎯 🚀

We all know we do this to make money, but there's got to be an underlying purpose behind it. That's your North Star.

Elon Musk's North Star? Colonise Mars. He knew that at age eight. Tesla is just a vehicle to colonise Mars. SpaceX is just a vehicle to colonise Mars.

When you follow Elon, you know exactly where he's going.

Without a North Star, you're just drifting. Building random businesses. Chasing whatever looks profitable.

With a North Star, every decision becomes clear.

What is your North Star? Follow + comment "Upgrade" if you want to discover your North Star and build a business with clear purpose and direction.

The meeting that exposed my blind spot.

A few years ago, during a strategy workshop with my executive team, someone said something I'll never forget.

"Kristian, you're amazing at building strategy - but sometimes you forget we're human."

It was confronting.

They weren't talking about performance; they were talking about emotional intelligence.

I realised I'd been leading through intellect, not empathy.

I was brilliant at direction but terrible at connection.

That week, I started a new practice: every one-on-one started with one question -
"How are you really doing?"

Not the small talk. Not the metrics. The truth.

It changed everything.

Morale lifted. Retention skyrocketed. Results improved.

Emotional intelligence isn't soft.

It's the hard skill that keeps your best people from walking out the door.

Follow + comment "RISE" if you want to develop the emotional intelligence that keeps your best people and drives performance.

taplio

The Battle

John Bates

Kristian Livolsi

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taplio

The Battle

John Bates

Kristian Livolsi

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}John Bates's LinkedIn Performance

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