In this vulnerable solo episode, host Steve Arendt revisits a recent leadership experience that went completely sideways—and how he used it as an opportunity for growth through the three levels of work (framework from Episode 6):

1. The cogs and wheels—getting things done

2. The deep work—stepping back to improve the system

3. The deepest work—doing the inner work as a leader

Steve shares what happened during a frustrating nonprofit meeting he was leading: unclear leadership, a lack of direction, no measurable deliverables, and confused team dynamics. The result? Frustration, anger, and shut-down teammates.

But instead of staying stuck, Steve leaned into the discomfort, unpacked his emotional response, and took full ownership of his role in the breakdown. What followed was a powerful reflection on how to move forward—with clarity, humility, and renewed leadership.

🎙️ In this episode:

• Why great leadership starts with emotional self-awareness

• How to turn anger into a learning opportunity

• The difference between consensus-building and decision-making

• A simple framework to lead better meetings

• Why “failing forward” is essential to building a better life and business

This is real leadership—raw, honest, and growth-minded.

Steve sits down with Walberto Vasquez of The Tent Company in Houston to unpack the full-circle story of a family business built on resilience, hard work, and deep-rooted values.

From humble beginnings—including Walberto’s father immigrating from El Salvador during a civil war—to co-founding a growing tent manufacturing business, Walberto shares how trusting others, delegating, and stepping away at the right times allowed their company to grow. They discuss the emotional weight of entrepreneurship, balancing family and business, and the importance of giving yourself permission to breathe.

Walberto's story exemplifies the podcast's core philosophy: building businesses that serve family values while creating opportunities for growth, innovation, and personal fulfillment.

Mentioned in this episode:   Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) – A global community of entrepreneurs committed to learning and growth. Steve shares how EO helped reshape his view of business and life.

In this solo episode, Steve Arendt addresses listener questions about the podcast's new tagline that distinguishes between "hard work" and "deep work." He provides a comprehensive framework for understanding these different types of work and their roles in building a sustainable business.

Hard Work: Making the Gears Turn

• The essential daily operations that keep business running
• Activities that must happen consistently: production, delivery, billing, accounts receivable/payable
• If any "cog" stops working, the business can halt immediately
• Leaders often spend all their time ensuring these operations function smoothly

Deep Work: Making the Gears Run More Efficiently

• Requires stepping back from daily operations to analyze the bigger picture
• Focus on identifying and improving inefficiencies
• Applying the 80/20 rule: finding the 20% of efforts that produce 80% of results

Four Key Areas for Deep Work Analysis:

1. Finances
2. Culture
3. Processes
4. Sales & Marketing Alignment

Deep Deep Work: The Soul Work of Leadership

• Personal introspection and self-analysis as a leader
• Understanding your "why" and purpose beyond just making money
• Becoming the type of leader people want to follow
• Daily vulnerable self-examination and seeking feedback from others
• Working with personal fears, anxieties, and recurring challenges

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, host Steve Arendt sits down with longtime friend and fellow entrepreneur Ramsey Duqum, CEO of AABLE Rents and founder of Forcey software. This marks the first guest episode since the podcast's rebrand from "Teeco Steve" to "Better Lives Better Business."

This isn't just another business success story—it's a raw, honest look at what it takes to build companies that serve both profit and purpose. Ramsey opens up about the winding road of leadership, the importance of truth in all aspects of life, and why technology should ultimately give us more time for what matters most.

Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, a family business owner, or someone struggling to balance business growth with personal fulfillment, this conversation offers both practical wisdom and profound inspiration.

"There's no space in memory for regret when it's filled with a lesson learned." - Ramsey Duqum

This episode exemplifies the podcast's core philosophy: that better business and better life are not competing priorities but complementary forces that strengthen each other when properly balanced.

In this brief but heartfelt episode, Steve expresses overwhelming gratitude for the incredible response to the podcast launch. The feedback and community support has been so tremendous that the team is taking a two-week pause to rebrand and improve the show based on listener insights.

What's Coming:

• Rebranding: Moving toward "Better Business, Better Life" to better reflect the podcast's true mission beyond tent washing equipment
• Next Guest: Ramsey Duqum from Forcey and AABLE Rents will share his personal story of living out the "better business, better life" philosophy
• Community Building: Creating an ecosystem and tribe of people committed to becoming better individuals and building better businesses

Steve also shares exciting updates about the tent washing machine business, including a merger with Custom Machine Works and completely retooled offerings with six performance levels at various investment points.

Key Theme: Surrounding yourself with people who embody "better life, better business" creates a positive cycle that keeps giving back.

In this third episode, Teeco Steve addresses one of the most common challenges facing growing businesses: the shift from startup-mode leadership to mature business leadership. He explores why successful business owners often feel frustrated and stuck despite meeting their financial goals, introducing the concept that "what got me here will not take me there." Steve presents personality profiling (specifically the DiSC assessment) as a practical tool for becoming a better leader, sharing detailed examples of how understanding personality differences transformed relationships with his employees and family members. The episode emphasizes the transition from "push management" to "pull management" and becoming an attractive force that people want to follow.

Key Topics Covered

• The Leadership Transition Challenge
• Why successful startup entrepreneurs often lose their spark after achieving business goals
• The difference between startup leadership and mature business leadership "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together"
• Moving from push management to pull management. Becoming an attractive force rather than constantly pushing people

The DISC Personality Profile System

• D (Dominant): Quick decision-makers who want to execute ideas immediately
• I (Influence): People-focused individuals who value group cohesion and collaboration
• S (Steadiness): Loyal, consistent people who value stability and long-term relationships
• C (Conscientious): Quality and process-focused individuals who prioritize accuracy

Resources Mentioned

DiSC Assessment

Culture Index: www.cultureindex.com Advanced personality integration for company culture

Predictive Index: predictiveindex.com Competitor offering similar culture integration services

Myers-Briggs

Key Takeaways:

Leadership style must evolve as business matures from startup to growth phase.

Personality profiling provides practical tools for better communication.

Understanding differences prevents conflicts and improves team effectiveness.

Same leadership principles apply to both business and family relationships. Becoming an attractive leader is more sustainable than constant pushing.

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps us reach more entrepreneurs who need these insights. Thanks for tuning in to the Teeco Steve Podcast! See you next week!

In this second episode, Teeco Steve dives deep into the financial side of building a better business. He introduces the concept of a Financial Dashboard for small businesses, focusing on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that help owners monitor and improve their business health. Steve emphasizes starting with one crucial metric: the Labor Efficiency Ratio, explaining how to calculate and use this number to drive operational improvements. The episode also explores the personal finance side, sharing Steve's own story of how lifestyle inflation nearly derailed his work-life balance goals, and the "inner work" required to align personal spending with life priorities.

Key Topics Covered

The Financial Dashboard Concept 

• How financial dashboards help business owners make informed decisions 
• The importance of monitoring key numbers daily, weekly, or monthly
• Working with accountants and bookkeepers to rearrange existing tax data

Labor Efficiency Ratio  Your First KPI

• Definition: What percentage of gross profit is labor
• Understanding Sales, Cost of Goods Sold, and Gross Profit 
• Why labor is typically the biggest cost in most businesses
• How to use this ratio to identify efficiency opportunities

Implementing Efficiency Improvements

• Walking your business with "efficiency glasses" 
• Practical examples from tent rental business: truck loading, routing, setup methods
• Application to other business types: manufacturing, distribution, service
• How improvements create a game-like approach to business optimization

Personal Finance and Life Alignment 

Steve's story of lifestyle inflation after business success

The disconnect between stated goals (family time) and actual behavior (working more)

How personal spending directly impacts business profit requirements

The Inner Work Challenge 

• Defining what you truly want from life
• Aligning spending with actual values vs. perceived status needs
• Facing fears and being honest about motivations
• The ongoing nature of this work as life circumstances change

Vulnerability and Self-Awareness 

• Understanding the difference between wanting praise vs. genuine relationships 
• Making difficult choices to realign lifestyle with values
• Reducing business profit requirements through conscious spending

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Forcey Software: Recommended for tent rental businesses, provides real-time labor efficiency tracking. https://www.forcey.com/

Book Recommendation: "Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits" by Greg Crabtree, author and entrepreneurial finance expert. A simple read that will change how you view finances and business operations. Order here: https://a.co/d/5iwG0lI

Key Takeaways

1. Start with one KPI: Labor Efficiency Ratio

2. Use existing bookkeeping data to create your dashboard

3. Walk your business looking for efficiency improvements

4. Personal spending habits directly impact business profit needs

5. Inner work and honest self-reflection are essential for alignment

6. Better business and better life require constant adjustment and honesty

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps us reach more entrepreneurs who need these insights. Thanks for tuning in to the Teeco Steve Podcast! See you next week!

In this inaugural episode, Teeco Steve introduces his podcast for small to medium-sized business owners and managers. He shares his personal entrepreneurial journey, including the founding and growth of a tent rental business, and the pivotal moment when he realized business success was coming at the cost of his family relationships. Steve explains how he discovered the interconnected relationship between building a better business and living a better life, leading to the creation of an innovative tent-washing machine that became a global business. The episode establishes the podcast's core philosophy: that entrepreneurial enterprises should be gifts that enable owners to live life to the fullest.