Default Profitable

In this conversation, Mike DuKate, owner of DuKatete Fine Remodeling, shares his experiences in the construction industry and the challenges he faced as a small business owner. He discusses the importance of finding alignment with one's passion and vocation, as well as the need for business skills and accountability in the trades. Mike also shares the story of how his company survived a major embezzlement and the lessons he learned from that experience. He emphasizes the value of peer groups and mentors in business and offers advice for small business owners.

 

Takeaways

Finding alignment between passion and vocation is crucial for long-term fulfillment in a career.

Business skills and accountability are essential for success in the trades.

Peer groups and mentors can provide valuable guidance and support for small business owners.

Learning from past mistakes and implementing stronger financial controls can help prevent and recover from embezzlement.

You can find morew informatiion about Mike on linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedukate/ or his company website https://www.dukate.net/

Randall Cloe is the owner of Cloe Legal, a law firm based in Carmel, providing pragmatic corporate counsel for the owner-operators of Main Street businesses across the state of Indiana. By developing a personal relationship with clients and becoming intimately acquainted with their business, Cloe Legal delivers the legal vision and strategy to manage the change of growth. Randall has a Wife, Karie, and two children, Charlie and Lillie.

 

You can learn more about Randall on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rcloe/ or the web at www.cloelegal.com. You are also welcome to connect with him directly by email at [email protected]

In this episode, Matt Nettleton interviews Cathy Armour, the President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Central Indiana.

 

After 25+ years of serving small businesses in Central Indiana through a regional accounting firm and then her own consulting company, Cathy landed full-time at BBB in 2015 as COO/CFO. In December of 2021 Cathy was appointed as CEO of BBB Serving Central Indiana leading the team to assist the consumers in the 46 counties they serve, and 77,000 businesses in their market area.  In 2023 BBB Serving Central Indiana grew their membership of BBB Accredited Businesses by 10% (third highest in the system of 94 BBBs across North America). Passionate about connecting with others, Cathy is excited to be investing in the growth culture of their organization by understanding the passion and skills of each team member and making certain they are maximizing those and finding fulfillment in their work.

 

Takeaways

Trust is crucial in business and has been a core value of the Better Business Bureau since its inception.

Investing in people and creating a positive company culture are essential for the success of an organization.

Small business owners should focus on finding the right people to complement their skills and creating effective communication channels.

Having a solid business plan and continuously updating it is vital for the success of a new business.

Joining me today is Kent Kramer, President and CEO of Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana, a local not-for-profit organization that employs nearly 5,000 people and operates 17 high schools in Indiana as well as a nurse-home visitation program for first-time, low-income moms. Kent has been with Goodwill for 20 years – the previous eight as CEO. Prior to that, he spent 13 years in multi-unit leadership positions with Sam’s Club and Kmart across several states. 

 

Kent earned a Bachelor of Science degree in management from Indiana State University and serves on the Alumni Association Board. He also holds an MBA from the Falls School of Business at Anderson University. He serves on the School of Business and Information Technology Advisory Board for Purdue University Global and was elected to serve on the Goodwill International Board of Directors in 2019. He is also an active member of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis.

You can find more information about Kent online at https://www.goodwillindy.org/kent-kramer/ or on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/goodwillkak/ 

Kent recommends any Patrick Lencioni book (3 of his faves) The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Death by Meeting, and The Ideal Team Player

In this episode, Matt Nettleton interviews Chris Eley, the owner of Smoking Goose and Goose the Market in Indianapolis. Chris shares his journey of starting and growing a retail-based business in the food industry. He discusses his background in the food industry, the decision to start a butcher shop, and the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship. Chris emphasizes the importance of planning, maintaining passion for the business, and under-promising and over-delivering. He also highlights the all-consuming nature of business ownership and offers advice for new business owners. You can find more information about Chris at https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-eley-287828b/ or his company website https://www.goosethemarket.com/

 

Takeaways

Starting a business in the retail industry requires careful planning and consideration of market demand.

Maintaining passion for the business is crucial for long-term success.

Under-promising and over-delivering can help build trust and loyalty with customers.

Business ownership can be all-consuming, but it is important to find a balance and prioritize personal well-being.

Chapters

00:00Introduction and Background

03:04Early Career in the Food Industry

08:30Transitioning to Entrepreneurship

10:18Starting a Butcher Shop

14:06Maintaining Passion for the Business

16:12Lessons Learned and the Value of Planning

18:15Challenges of Growing a Business

21:00The All-Consuming Nature of Business Ownership

23:23Advice for New Business Owners

25:39Wrap-up and Call to Action

With 51 Episodes done, this is the second quick recap. In these three episodes, our guests talked about Pivoting, Getting Started, and the Journey of Business. Listen to short clips from Eddie Rangel, Tommy Reddicks, Stephanie Daily, Steve Sawa, and Andrew Elsener.

With 51 Episodes done, it is time for a quick recap. The first three themes our guest talked about were Failure, Finances and Paying for Lessons. Listen to short clips from Joel Russell, Tommy Reddicks, Brady Clements, Pete (the Planner) Dunn, Jeff Donovan and Nels Kasey.

In this episode, Matt Nettleton interviews Steve Sawa, the general manager at Auto's parking marking. They discuss the journey of starting, running, and growing a less glamorous business. Steve shares the background and history of the business, which he bought from the original founders in 2000. He talks about the lessons he has learned as a business owner, including the importance of saying no and making the right decisions. Steve also discusses the transition to employee ownership through an ESOP and the planning involved. The episode concludes with advice for new business owners to take action and make sound decisions.

Takeaways

Starting a business requires hard work and dedication, and the early years can be challenging.

Building a solid foundation and having good people around you are key to success.

Learning from mistakes and being willing to fix them is important for growth.

Transitioning to employee ownership can be a way to reward and retain valuable employees.

In this episode, host Matt Nettleton interviews Jonathan Walla, owner of Walla Painting, about his journey as a small business owner. Jonathan shares his experience starting with a lawn care business and transitioning to painting. He emphasizes the importance of business coaching and reading books to gain knowledge and insights. Jonathan also highlights the need to set boundaries and prioritize personal life while running a business. He discusses the opportunities and challenges he faced during the housing market crash and offers advice on knowing the numbers in your business.

You can connect to Jonathan on linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-walla-03001776/  

or his company website https://wallapainting.com/ 

E-myth revisited: Michael Gerber https://amzn.to/47ct1hL 

How to win friends and influence people: Dale Carnegie https://amzn.to/46VUFzh 

Selling to Homeowners the Sandler Way: Chip Doyle & Kim Booker https://amzn.to/3RJ7716 

Atomic habits: James Clear https://amzn.to/3uY6WpL

Eddie Rangel is the Chief Executive Officer of Adelante Schools, an Indiana non-profit school management organization. In this role, he leads an Indianapolis Mayor-sponsored, K-8 public charter innovation school within the Indianapolis Public Schools Innovation Network. Previously, Eddie served as a school leader in the Tindley Accelerated Schools network and a teacher in Indianapolis Public Schools. Eddie holds a M.Ed. in Public School Building Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University, an MA in Teaching from Marian University, and a BM in Music Performance from the University of Redlands.

You can find more information about Eddie at  www.adelanteschools.org or https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddie-rangel/ 

Eddie recommends this book  How the Other Half Learns, Robert Pondiscio https://amzn.to/3Gxx8tL