G&P LLC

Lead a team that buys, sells, invests in, and grows small businesses.

Founder

Leadership GS

Helping individuals, teams, and organizations thrive:
+Keynote speaker on leadership, business, entrepreneurship, and personal growth (DM to learn more).
+Newsletter author: Join 140,000+ members receiving free leadership and personal growth tips by email and social every week.

Keynote Speaker and Writer

Jefferson County, Colorado

Led 115 employees as we dramatically overhauled a frontline government agency that serves 600,000 people, winning four national innovation awards, being featured on 60 Minutes, CNN, and dozens of other programs, and achieving 95%+ customer satisfaction.

Clerk and Recorder (Elected Official)

McKinsey & Company

Trusted advisor to Fortune 500 companies and large governments as they made critical strategic and operational decisions.

Management Consultant

The White House 

Served on President Obama's legal team during the defense of the Affordable Care Act and the DACA and DAPA immigration Executive Orders; the legalization of same-sex marriage; and dozens of high profile cabinet and judicial appointments.

Office of White House Counsel

G&P CEO | Ex-McKinsey, Harvard Law, Elected Official | Firefighter | ✅Follow for leadership and lifestyle lessons

Day job: Buying, selling, investing in, and growing small businesses. 
Side hustle: Helping YOU and your organization thrive.

In my full-time job as Founder of G&P LLC, I lead a team that acquires, manages, and grows businesses.

Outside of that work, I share leadership lessons with hundreds of thousands of people through my newsletter and social media. And deliver keynote speeches and intimate presentations on leadership to organizations across the world.

And I'd love to help you!
1) For free access to all of my leadership infographics, as well as a weekly newsletter with actionable tips on leadership and lifestyle: https://www.leadershipgs.com/
2) To book me as a speaker for your organization, simply send a DM.
3) For one-on-one coaching to level-up your leadership: https://calendly.com/george-leadershipgs/60-minute-coaching-session

And for more on my background, read on...

Now: 
+Founder and CEO at G&P LLC - acquiring, managing, and growing small businesses
+Writer and speaker for leaders and organizations across the globe

Previously: 
+McKinsey consultant: advised top Fortune 500 business leaders on critical decisions
+Harvard Law School, Magna Cum Laude: focused on business AND public policy 
+Elected official: led large agency, winning four national innovation awards, 40 under 40, and getting featured on 60 Minutes, CNN, and dozens of other programs

Throughout:
+Firefighter, responding to 911 calls on everything from structure fires to car crashes, cardiac arrests, and mountain rescues; rookie firefighter of the year 2017

If you want to be a great manager,

You have to defend your people -

From:
↳Toxic colleagues and cultures
↳Micromanagement
↳Burnout
↳Constant and unnecessary change
↳Bureaucracy
↳Useless meetings 
↳Lack of clarity
↳Unfair pay
↳False urgency
↳Office politics
↳Blame and disrespect

Whether your team is watching or not, 
Your job as a manager is to have their backs:

To fight for them in rooms they're not in,

Recommend them for projects and promotions,

Defend their decisions,

And sing their praises and celebrate their successes.

By lifting them up,

You won't just elevate them,
You'll elevate their work and the team's success, too. 

And in turn, as you: 
↳Raise productivity and performance
↳Build a great culture
↳And create a team of top performers

You will become a great leader.

But you can't start with yourself. 

You have to put your ego aside,
And put your people first.

Have you had a manager like that? 

----

♻️Repost to help inspire more great leaders.

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George Stern

Entrepreneur, speaker, investor. Ex-McKinsey, Harvard Law, elected official. Volunteer firefighter. ✅Follow for daily leadership lessons.

11 things you should NOT say in a job interview,

And what TO say instead:

Interviews are tough!

Sometimes you get just 20 minutes to:
↳Sell your strengths
↳Communicate your enthusiasm
↳And demonstrate fit

Don't make your life harder by sending the wrong message with one of these answers.

Use this sheet to skip the bad,
And make a great impression:

❌ Don't say: "I don't have questions"
❔ Why: Big missed opportunity - and a red flag in terms of your curiosity
✅ Say: "What would success look like in the first 6 months of this role?"

❌ Don't say: "I'm looking for any job right now"
❔ Why: You seem desperate, rather than genuinely interested
✅ Say: "I'm looking to use XYZ strengths to contribute, and I'm excited about how this role aligns"

❌ Don't say: "I hated my last boss"
❔ Why: Never bash a former boss to a future boss
✅ Say: "I learned a lot in my previous job, especially about X, but I'm excited for a new challenge that fits my goals"

❌ Don't say: "I don't know much about your company"
❔ Why: Suggests a lack of preparation and interest in the role
✅ Say: "I've researched the company and I'm particularly impressed with X – I'd love to hear your perspective on it"

❌ Don't say: "How much does this job pay?"
❔ Why: You can get this answered without sounding like you care more about pay than the role itself
✅ Say: "I'm excited about this role, and I'd love to understand the compensation range to ensure it aligns with my expectations"

❌ Don't say: "I don't have weaknesses"
❔ Why: This seems arrogant and like you lack self-awareness
✅ Say: "I've been working to improve on X recently, and after taking Y steps I've grown substantially"

❌ Don't say: "I'm not great at time management"
❔ Why: While you should offer weaknesses, don't do it without showing solutions and growth
✅ Say: "Time management has been a focus for me – I now use X tools and Y techniques to stay organized and meet deadlines"

❌ Don't say: "I know I'm underqualified, but..."
❔ Why: Don't undercut yourself - focus on your strengths
✅ Say: "I'm excited to use my experience to lean into the challenges of this role and work hard to learn and grow quickly"

❌ Don't say: "I was fired from my previous role"
❔ Why: Fair or not, being fired carries a stigma
✅ Say: "My previous role ended unexpectedly, but it gave me the chance to reflect and strengthen my skills in X"

❌ Don't say: "I don't really have career goals"
❔ Why: Most employers prefer to see some degree of hunger to learn and grow
✅ Say: "My short-term goal is to excel in this role, and long-term, I aim to grow in X"

❌ Don't say: "When can I get promoted?"
❔ Why: In contrast to the last one, blatant climbing isn't ideal either
✅ Say: "What does career growth look like here, and how are employees supported in reaching their potential?"


Don't let the wrong answer distract from your talents.

Avoid these, and you'll be able to shine. 

Any you'd add?

---

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What not to say in job interviews - and what to say instead

At some point we lost the humanity in hiring. 

7 rules to bring it back:

1) Ghosting is not okay - give every applicant a response

2) Communicate clearly - set expectations about the process and timelines

3) Communicate warmly - don't outsource candidate engagement to AI ... you're recruiting people

4) Respect their time - don't interview someone you know you won't choose

5) Respect their time v2 - don't put someone through countless rounds even if you might choose them

6) Take a chance - jobs can be taught, and we all start with 0 experience and get a break at some point

7) Learn the real story - people are more than a piece of paper, so get beyond the resume


Behind every application is a real person.

They're putting themselves out there,

And going through the stressful and difficult process of job searching. 

We've all been there, and we all could be back there.

Treat people as you would want to be treated - 

As humans.

Agree?

---

Quote inspiration: Tim Denning

♻️ Repost to share this with employers in your network.

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behind every resume is a real person with hopes, dreams, and a family. never forget that

8 visuals to transform your mindset,

And boost your career.

All by visualhustles (worth a follow on Instagram)

1) Motivation wanes, discipline lasts
↳Depending on motivation is a sure way to never get started or fail to continue
↳Strengthen your discipline muscle by showing up whether you're motivated or not - starting small and working up

2) Communication is everything
↳Misunderstandings, mistrust, and issues grow from poor communication
↳Practice listening actively and communicating clearly, and you'll watch the drama unravel

3) Dream big, act small
↳You should dream in moonshots to inspire action and give you something big to aim for
↳But execute with small steps that you can achieve each day

4) Every success is built on failures
↳Failure is the common element in every story of big success
↳Don't aim to never fail - aim to get back up, learn, and keep going

5) Consistency beats intensity
↳Don't burn yourself out (or burn out whatever you're tending to) by overdoing it out of the gate
↳Set a pace you can maintain long-term, and you'll beat a fast start every time

6) Zoom out - pain wanes
↳Setbacks can feel brutal in the moment - like everything is falling in on you
↳Take a step back to adjust your perspective and keep going - with time, it'll all fade from view 

7) Comparison is dangerous and counterproductive
↳There are so many reasons not to compare: they started at an earlier time, with different advantages, had struggles you can't see, etc. 
↳Focus on yourself - on getting better each day - and you'll grow quickly

8) Dance like no one's watching
↳Stop worrying about what other people will think - because the reality is they probably won't even notice
↳Once you understand the spotlight effect, you can take risks without fear of judgment

I'd love to know in the comments: 

Which of these images stands out most? 

---

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8 Visuals to Transform Your Mindset

The secret to acing your job interview?


Preparation.

To knock it out of the park, you need to walk in with:
↳Knowledge of the organization and the role
↳3 main points about why you'll thrive
↳5+ stories from past experiences that demonstrate your skills
↳And answers to all 12 of these common questions

[See sheet for more details]

1) Tell me about yourself
↳Tip: Decide beforehand which of your experiences and skills best fit the position
↳Answer: Use those to tell a personal and interesting story, describing how you got started, what you learned along the way, and how this job is the next logical step

2) Why are you interested in this position?
↳Tip: Research the organization and role in advance
↳Answer: Be specific about how your skills have prepared you to have an immediate impact

3) What are your strengths?
↳Tip: Choose strengths that best match the position
↳Answer: Describe 2 to 3 of them in detail, using stories to illustrate

4) Tell me about a time you failed
↳Tip: Show that you have a growth mindset
↳Answer: Use a story of a professional setback that you learned from quickly

5) Describe a time you motivated others
↳Tip: This question is asking you to demonstrate leadership
↳Answer: Describe a time when you tailored your approach to the people involved

6) When's a time you had to handle multiple projects at once?
↳Tip: Emphasize your time management abilities, organization, and reliability
↳Answer: Share an example of a time when you used repeatable systems

7) Describe a time you experienced a major change at work
↳Tip: Employers want people who embrace change
↳Answer: Pick an example where you were impacted by a big change and adapted efficiently

8) What's an example of a time you set a goal for yourself and achieved it?
↳Tip: Show that you know how to set clear goals and use tactics to follow through
↳Answer: Choose an example when you were successful and used repeatable steps

9) Tell me about a time you disagreed with a boss or colleague 
↳Tip: Don't badmouth the boss or colleague
↳Answer: Use a story where you communicated transparently and professionally, and were an active part in reaching a positive resolution

10) What are your weaknesses?
↳Tip: Don't use cliches like "I care too much" or "I work too hard"
↳Answer: Describe 1 or 2 things that aren't critical to succeeding in the job

11) Any questions?
↳Tip: This is one of the only questions you are almost guaranteed to be asked
↳Answer: Ask things that show you've done your homework or are focused on success (ex: What will success look like in the first 90 days?)

12) Anything we didn't discuss?
↳Tip: Don't say no here. In advance, think about the 3 main points you want to get across in your interview
↳Answer: Use this time to share or reiterate those


Every question is an opportunity - 

Prepare enough that you can use each one to shine.

---

♻ Repost to help anyone in your network who is interviewing.

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Job interview guide - common questions with A+ answers

The best thing to do if you're in a toxic workplace:


Leave.

We're often quick to make excuses for toxicity. 

Or to hope it will change. 

But the reality is:

Toxic workplaces rarely get better,
And they make the people in them worse.

Don't sacrifice your mental and physical health,

Or hold back your growth and development.

Our careers are too short, 
And our lives are too short,

To stay stuck in toxic situations.

If you're surrounded by:
↳Bullying and harassment
↳Zero balance
↳Overbearing micromanagement
↳Backstabbing
↳Favoritism
↳Or unfair pay and promotions

Prioritize your own well-being,

And move on.

It won't make you a failure or a quitter. 

It'll make you a person who knows your worth.

And frankly, it'll likely help your career, too.

Agree?

---

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if you're in a toxic workplace, leave. It won't make you a failure or a quitter. It'll make you someone who knows your worth. 

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