Brian Bartes is a best-selling author, speaker, and success coach. For more than 30 years, Brian has devoted himself to personal development, success, motivation, and leadership, applying what he has learned as a practitioner. His client list includes Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, universities, and associations. Brian has also written four books, including “Life Lessons: A Guide to Creating and Living Your Best Life," and has contributed to several others.
Brian Bartes, Success Coach, Author & Speaker
Introduce yourself! Please tell us about you and your life, so we can get to know you better.
My vocational background is in accounting and finance, and I became the Chief Financial Officer of a $100 million company at the age of 23, and has helped grow it to over $1.7 billion in annual revenue.
I am a lifelong student of success and personal development, which led to my career as a best-selling author, keynote speaker, and highly regarded success coach. In my latest book, “Life Lessons: A Guide to Creating and Living Your Best Life,” I reveal the proven principles that cause people to reach the pinnacle of their professions, and create success in every area of life.
Lately, I’ve been charting a new course to impact lives positively and share how to achieve excellence in every area of life – through my popular podcast, "LifeExcellence with Brian Bartes."
On a personal note, I live in suburban Detroit, Michigan. I’ve been married for 35 years to my high school sweetheart, Heidi, and they have four children and one granddaughter. When I’m not writing or hosting my podcast, I love to travel, run, play squash, and read.
What inspired you to create this business – LifeExcellence, LLC, and what is its primary purpose or mission?
In my early twenties, I began learning from and studying some of the greatest minds in personal development – people like Tony Robbins, Brian Tracy, Jim Rohn, and others. I read all their books, attended seminars and conferences, and began applying their strategies to achieve success in my own life.
At some point, the thought occurred to me that I wasn’t meant to merely become successful myself, but rather this was part of a calling to help others achieve success, too. I launched LifeExcellence, which was the name of my company, but more importantly embodied my personal philosophy of “constant and never-ending improvement – in every area of life."
Our mission is to help others accomplish and realize their full potential faster, easier and with greater predictability than they would on their own.
What is LifeExcellence?
LifeExcellence is my personal philosophy for life. It means constant and never-ending improvement in every area of life. LifeExcellence is a holistic approach to achieving goals, and starts by examining where we are – and where we want to be – in each area of life. Next, we design an action plan for achieving those desired results. And then we take massive action to achieve whatever goals we set for ourselves.
I live that philosophy myself, and help others to do the same. My methods are action-oriented and results-driven. They are based on time-tested, proven strategies that help our clients get more of the things they really want.
In our coaching program, we add in an accountability structure. We support, motivate, challenge, and encourage our clients as they take their personal and professional lives to the next level – whatever that looks like for them.
What sets your business apart from competitors in your niche, and what unique value do you offer to your audience or customers?
My coaching program is designed to do one thing: Help clients accomplish and realize their potential faster, easier and with greater predictability than they would on their own. Imagine being challenged and motivated to be your best in every area of your life. Receiving insight, guidance, encouragement and momentum to move forward. Discovering and capitalizing on new opportunities, both personally and professionally. Creating a “bridge” that takes them from where they are now to where they want to be. Think about how much more successful you could be if you had this kind of support. That’s the value we provide our clients.
Tell us about your greatest career achievement so far.
Becoming the Chief Financial Officer of a $100 million company at the age of 23, and growing it to over $1.7 billion in annual revenue was a huge achievement. But I’m even more excited about my podcast, "LifeExcellence with Brian Bartes."
On LifeExcellence, we feature amazing athletes, entrepreneurs, authors, entertainers, and others who have achieved excellence in their chosen fields, so listeners and viewers can learn their tools, techniques, and strategies for improving performance, and achieving greater success.
Our guests have included:
Peter Vanderkaay 3-time Olympic swimmer, and 4-time Olympic medalist
James (the “Iron Cowboy”) Lawrence Endurance triathlete
Kathy Ireland Model & entrepreneur
Cassie De Pecol First woman on record to travel to every country in the world
Tom Fazio Golf course architect
Nora Roberts Novelist
Jeff Foxworthy Comedian
Annie Duke Former professional poker player
Chris Voss Former FBI hostage negotiator
Horst Schulze Founding member of the Ritz Carlton Hotel Company
Annika Sorenstam Professional golfer
Hou Yifan 4-time Women's World Chess Champion
My work life is a wonderful juxtaposition between an incredible career as CFO of a billion-dollar company, and an even higher calling as an author, success coach, speaker, and podcast host. I’m lucky enough to be able to live a great life, and to empower and inspire others to do the same.
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