Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders

It can be daunting to put yourself out there to network and meet new people, but it helps to bear in mind the opportunities for growth and support that come with being part of a community. This week on Branch Out we welcome back Carrie Schochet, Founder, and CEO of Purple Squirrel Advisors, a boutique executive search firm based in Troy, Michigan. In our conversation with Carrie, we discuss the lifelong journey of personal growth and how feedback networking and seeking out peer groups can support it. She shares how she has fostered a working culture that welcomes feedback in her business and the benefits of soliciting feedback internally. We also discuss the benefits of building and maintaining relationships with your peers and how to grow by surrounding yourself with other leaders. 

 Key Points From This Episode: 

• Carrie's definition of growth and why she believes it's so important.
• How Carrie creates the right environment for better feedback.
• The benefits of soliciting feedback internally.
• How to create a work culture where feedback is welcomed.
• How soliciting feedback has helped Carrie grow.
• How Carrie has benefited from surrounding herself with leaders and good people.
• How being part of a community has helped Carrie in challenging situations.
• The value of building and maintaining relationships with others in your industry.
• Why most of Carrie's networking is about exchanging ideas, rather than a sales pitch.
• How to learn and evolve through your peers.
• Why Carrie is a big proponent of peer groups.
• How Carrie was inspired by her peers at a fire walking event.
• How your energy and mindset affect those around you, especially as a leader.

Carrie Schochet on Linkedin
Carrie Schochet Email
Purple Squirrel Advisors
Alex Drost LinkedIn
Branch Out Podcast LinkedIn
Connection Builders LinkedIn

Have thoughts or comments? We want to hear from you. [email protected]

One of the most vital characteristics of a successful entrepreneur is the ability and desire to continue learning. This growth mindset can be the determining factor in the longevity of your business, and to help us unpack this important subject, we welcome back popular guest Elliott Holland, Founder and Managing Director of Guardian Due Diligence. In this conversation, we talk about how staying open to new paths and strategies is what can bring you closest to future successes, with Elliott strongly underlining the need to invest your time and money in personal development. There are habits and methods for continuing to grow, but that foundation of open-mindedness and a willingness to change and adapt is the most critical aspect, in our opinion.  

Key Points From This Episode: 

• Elliott's general thinking about a growth mindset. 
• Staying open to the possibility of improvement.
• Reframing wins and losses can change your whole perspective on learning. 
• Setting the appropriate expectations and how these can determine your results.  
• How experiences of failure and loss can propel innovation and different kinds of success.
• Finding time and energy to invest in learning within a busy schedule.  
• Investing your money in your learning; why Elliott values this trait so highly. 
• Getting creative and opening your mind to innovation and new possibilities. 
• Drawing on the experience and intelligence of older professionals. 

Elliott Holland on LinkedIn
Guardian Due Diligence
Throughline
Hidden Brain
Alex Drost LinkedIn
Branch Out Podcast LinkedIn
Connection Builders LinkedIn

Have thoughts or comments? We want to hear from you. [email protected]

A quick update on the Branch Out Podcast

Coming January 2022:

• Fresh New Episodes
• Special Bonus Content Series
• Redesigned Website

Make sure to catch up on all of our past episodes and be on the lookout for new content starting in mid-January. 

If you enjoy our content, please leave us a review and share it with your network. 

Being an entrepreneur might seem risky in some ways, but what if, instead of thinking about the risks, you thought about all the opportunities that come with taking the leap? Ken Marblestone is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Ten:34 Partners; a private investment firm focused on family-owned and entrepreneurial businesses. In this episode, Ken shares his passion for family businesses and how he became so interested in them. We find out more about what it takes to be an entrepreneur; the journey is not easy, but as they say, nothing worth it ever is. Ken talks about finding out where your strengths are and the power of knowing what you are not good at. Our conversation also touches on the importance of introspection, relationship-building, and the value of referrals. 

 Key Points From This Episode:

• Ken’s work with family business owners and why he is so passionate about them.
• Hear about where the name Ten:34 comes from.
• The misconceptions that many people hold about what it takes to be an entrepreneur.
• Ken’s perspective of risk and why it’s about more than just finance.
• Some of Ken’s tips on how to figure out what you are good at.
• A key to success is not trying to master everything.
• You can gain clarity from taking steps back during your day.
• Ken’s approach to building relationships; it’s not about generating business.
• You will build a good reputation over time, so be patient.
• Whatever you are thinking of doing, start now.
• What Ken would say to himself if he could go back 20 years.

Ken Marblestone on LinkedIn
Ten:34 Partners
StrengthsFinder
Alex Drost LinkedIn
Branch Out Podcast LinkedIn
Connection Builders LinkedIn

Have thoughts or comments? We want to hear from you. [email protected]

In the world of business, one of the biggest favors that you can do for yourself and your firm is to stand out and differentiate what you do from others. Today we are joined by Emily Ackerman, who takes that idea very seriously and who has leveraged it to attain success over the years. Emily is a business development executive at Lane Gorman Trubitt, and she shares her expertise and wisdom in this fascinating conversation! Emily talks about being memorable and why focusing her energy on her own strengths has enabled her to build a strong network and develop business opportunities. Emily has a staunch commitment to changing the way people think about business development. 

 Key Points From This Episode:

• Unpacking Emily's primary thoughts on the meaning of business development.  
• The types of clients that Emily works with and how to grow a network through referrals.
• Building real relationships: approaches to a strong foundation with clients.
• Telling your story and standing out to create a strong brand image and calling card. 
• Keeping it real, investing the time, and getting to know the people you are working with!
• Finding hidden connections and how relating on deeper levels can impact your work. 
• The processes that Emily has used to stand out: owning what made her different in the world of CPAs. 
• Strategic use of time and why Emily disagrees with the excuses about not having enough of it!
• Moving on from what you cannot control and focusing on things within your grasp.

Emily Ackerman on LinkedIn
Lane Gorman Trubit
Alex Drost LinkedIn
Branch Out Podcast LinkedIn
Connection Builders LinkedIn

Have thoughts or comments? We want to hear from you. [email protected]

Business Development is a broad concept that can sometimes be difficult to pin down. It encompasses not only hard data, systems, and figures but also networking, relationship building, and deal acquisition. Joining us this week to help us explore the art and science of business development is Stephen Madsen, Director of Business Development, Deal Origination, and Capital Markets at Monomoy Capital Partners. In our conversation with Stephen, we hear how he has spent his career focusing on adding value to others without expecting anything in return and how actively facilitating introductions creates goodwill and positively affects people's perception of you. We also explore how he and his firm were able to leverage data more efficiently and use their limited time and resources to keep track of buyer opportunities and remain top of mind.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Stephen's definition of business development and how it shifts depending on the context.
• Why Stephen believes there is both an art and a science to business development.
• Some of the elements that make up the science of business development like data analysis and pattern recognition.
• The importance of facilitating networking opportunities and how this has served Stephen in his career.
• How to recognize how you can facilitate networking opportunities for others.
• How actively facilitating introductions creates goodwill and positively affects people's perception of you.
• Why you shouldn't assume that people already know one another.
• How to take a systematic approach to business development.
• Using data analysis to address specific questions around business development.
• How to efficiently use your limited time and resources to identify and keep track of potential opportunities and relationships and stay top of mind.
• The importance of the watch list process at Monomoy and how it has informed their data analytics.
• How the data revealed the superiority of in-person meetings for securing deals.
• Stephen's theories for why in-person meetings are more likely to result in successful deals.
• Why tracking data can be tedious and how Stephen's company had a surprising experience when they started their watchlist.
• A call to action for listeners this week: identify where you can track information around your relationship building and how you can leverage that.

Stephen Madsen on LinkedIn
Stephen Madsen's Email
Monomoy Capital Partners
In-Person Is the Essential Currency of PE Business Development
Alex Drost LinkedIn
Branch Out Podcast LinkedIn
Connection Builders LinkedIn

Have thoughts or comments? We want to hear from you. [email protected]

Most of us have heard the importance of networking at some point in our career, but why is it so critical, and why should we invest time into building our network? Today's episode is a deep dive into why networking matters and the hidden benefits from private equity investor and master connector Corrie Menary. Corrie is a Partner at Kirtland Capital Partners, and she shares examples of how the relationships she has formed through her authentic approach to networking have added value to the company. Corrie also shares the various ways in which networking can benefit you personally and professionally and why she recommends networking with a diverse range of people, including those with whom you may be considered direct competition. Learning to network has the power to unlock immense potential, so don't miss this insightful episode which could have a long-lasting positive impact on your career!  

 Key Points From This Episode:

•  Corrie shares some examples of how she and her team at Kirtland Capital Partners help small businesses grow.
• The approach that Corrie takes in the early stages of interacting with small business owners.
• How Corrie helps combat some of the challenges of being a leader of a small business.
• Benefits of forming and nurturing a network of people in the same line of work as you.
• Corrie's thoughts on networking with "competitors". 
• Why Corrie recommends networking with a diverse range of people.
• The value of having a long-term perspective.
• A realization that Corrie had about networking as she progressed in her career.
• Being authentic is key when it comes to networking.
• Examples of how Corrie's network has positively contributed to her business.

Corrie Menary on LinkedIn
Kirtland Capital Partners
Alex Drost LinkedIn
Branch Out Podcast LinkedIn
Connection Builders LinkedIn

Have thoughts or comments? We want to hear from you. [email protected]

As building relationships is integral to achieving success in your career, today, we talk about how we can do this by using our platforms to add value to others. In this episode, we are joined by Paul Gray, the co-founder and managing partner of Ironhold Capital, the chairman of Leaders in Business and Investing, and the president of the Capital Allocators Roundtable. We discuss how meaningful building relationships come from adding value to someone else and how to go about this in a genuine way. Paul started a podcast two years ago, and he shares how he has built and leveraged this platform to add value to others. He explains the investment this requires and how he receives no monetary compensation, but some of the connections he's made in the process and how this translates into ROI. Tuning in, you'll hear why Paul hates the advice that you just have to work hard, and he explains why this is not true. Find out the importance of being a constant learner, why you need your own style, the value of practice, how to nurture a relationship once you have made a connection.

 Key Points From This Episode:

• Paul Gray reflects on the benefits of building meaningful relationships and his relationship with Alex as an example of this. 
• How building meaningful relationships come from adding value to someone else and how to go about this in a genuine way. 
• How adding value to others means that there may not always be something in it for you. 
• Paul explains how having a podcast has helped him build relationships and some of the connections he's made through it, including Anthony Scaramucci & Chet Holmes.
• How Paul doesn't derive monetary benefit from the podcast, but the relationship-building aspect makes it worthwhile. 
• How Paul frames ROI when it comes to building relationships.
• The challenges of meeting people at in-person events.
• Advice for a young person looking to connect with more senior people in business. 
• The power of creating and leveraging media. 
• The importance of a high-quality finished product and putting your best foot forward. 
• Why Paul hates the advice that in order to be successful you just have to work hard. 
• The importance of being a constant learner.
• How you can't copy someone else, you need your own style.
• How to nurture a relationship once you have made a connection. 
• Why you should keep your social media profiles updated. 
• Paul's advice is to truly progress forward and reach your goals.
• Paul's final words of advice are to build your profile, leverage technology, and get out there and do it. 

Paul Gray on LinkedIn
Paul Gray on Twitter
Ironhold Capital
Leaders in Business and Investing
Leaders in Business and Investing Podcast
Capital Allocators Roundtable
Alex Drost LinkedIn
Branch Out Podcast LinkedIn
Connection Builders LinkedIn

Have thoughts or comments? We want to hear from you. [email protected]

There is so much more to success than making money. In today’s episode, we are joined by Leon Brujis, partner at Palladium Equity Partners and an expert in the field of private equity and a striving stoic, who explains why a curiosity mindset, acceptance of failure, having a positive impact on others, and a commitment to continuous learning, are far more critical than the number of deals you do or the amount of money you have. Leon explains the core foundations of the stoic philosophy and shares some personal stories that highlight how he uses these principles in his own life. This episode is full of pearls of wisdom from start to finish, and you are likely to walk away with a whole new perspective on the true meaning of success.

 Key Points From This Episode:

• Problems with the “me-first,” money-orientated mentality that is so pervasive in today’s world. 
• Why Leon thinks forming strong business relationships is so important. 
• Two examples highlight why he believes success is a state of mind.
• Leon shares the best piece of advice he has ever received. 
• Why Leon was drawn to stoicism, and what the four core principles of this philosophy are. 
• How Leon thinks about failure.
• One of the bad investment decisions that Leon made, and what he learned from it (and all the others).
• A story about what mastery means. 
• What the people who Leon looks up to most all have in common. 
• Why knowledge should be a continuous, lifelong process. 
• How to listen with a curious mind.
• Ways that showing interest in others improves your relationships. 
• True success is not about making money; it’s about how you touch the lives of other people. 

Leon Brujis on LinkedIn
Palladium Equity Partners
Palladium Equity Partners on LinkedIn
Alex Drost LinkedIn
Branch Out Podcast LinkedIn
Connection Builders LinkedIn

Have thoughts or comments? We want to hear from you. [email protected]

• Why Sheon makes the argument that it’s important to find advisors and service providers with a broader understanding, rather than a niche understanding.
• Insight into what Sheon means by ‘unknown unknowns’.  
• Why professionals push clients towards a solution that may not be in their best interests.
• What business owners should be looking for in professionals when hiring. 
• The two ways that advisors tend to steer companies incorrectly.
• The importance of a financial incentive to the advisor to do what is best for the client. 
• How a professional can display to their clients that they are a broad-based advisor.
• How the professional can get ahead of the client in terms of what is important to the client.
• How to ask the right questions to get your clients to think about the unknown unknowns. 
• How to develop the right skillsets to become a broad-based adviser.
• The importance of having humility.

• What Greek Mythology, Bill Gates and Blockbuster Can Teach Entrepreneurs About Turning Unknowns into Opportunities
• Safeguarding Entrepreneurial Success with the “Early Signs of Change” Predictive Analysis