Daniel Porcaro has spent the past 33 years growing and developing four companies.  Growing companies is his passion.  Dan grew all the companies mostly through organic growth with very few acquisitions.  He is passionate about long-term revenue and profit growth through the development and execution of a strategic plan and the development of a strong culture.

Currently, Dan is the Managing Partner of Porcaro Stolarek Mete Partners LLC (known as PSM Partners).  Founded in January of 2015, PSM offers IT consulting and talent acquisition services to small and mid-sized firms in the Chicago area.  As of January 2020, PSM employed 73 consultants and 300 clients.  Dan started the firm with his Partners and close friends Mike Mete and Dave Stolarek to grow PSM into the firm it is today.  PSM certainly would not have been nearly as successful without them.

From 1998 through 2012, Dan founded and ran Project Leadership Associates (PLA).  PLA was a business and technology consulting firm headquartered in Chicago.  With five practice areas -network integration, managed services, software development, business intelligence, and business strategy, PLA was unique for its size.  Starting with one employee, Dan grew PLA to 265 people, 50 million in revenue, and 6 offices across the country.  PLA was one of the most profitable, successful firms of its type in the country.  PLA also had a ten-year period where voluntary turnover was less than 2%.  Additionally, Dan is proud to say that PLA never lost money in any month of its existence under his tenure.  Dan sold PLA in 2012 to a private equity firm.

Prior to founding PLA, Dan was a partner in Workgroup Productivity Corporation (WPC).  WPC was a Lotus Notes consulting firm.  Dan was asked to join WPC as an equity partner to grow the firm, nationalize its services, and find a buyer.  He accomplished the growth plan over a 3- year period (growing revenues by 65%) and found a buyer for the firm.  After this transaction, Dan left to start PLA.

Prior to WPC, Dan was an Executive Director and Partner at Lansystems.  Headquartered out of NY, Lansystems was a nationwide network integration firm with an east and west coast presence.  Dan started the central region for Lansystems and quickly grew it from 2 to 60 employees while becoming the most profitable region in the country for the firm.  Lansystems was sold in 1994.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-porcaro-8540391/ 

Website: https://www.myefbc.com/board-staff/dan-porcaro/

4:27 - What’s more important growing up: loving support or a strong entrepreneurial role model?  

4:58 - Leadership: learned or innate?  

11:47 - The importance of being well-rounded as a leader 

17:21 - Learning from others’ mistakes 

36:08 - What makes for a solid business strategy 

45:03 - How to bake sales success into a company’s culture 

49:16 - What really motivates employees (spoiler: it’s not the money) 

1:02:55 The difference between growing a company you plan to sell vs. one you plan to keep 

1:07:53 Can you pandemic-proof a business? 

1:11:44 The positives of partnership 

1:13:44 How culture interacts with earnings growth 1:15:36 Incubating new businesses 

1:21:11 Rob’s take-aways

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Our goal is to inspire everyone to start their own business and help you grow it to millions or even billions in value so if you feel any benefit from this episode please let us know by leaving an iTunes review, sharing this episode on social media and emailing a link to anyone you think would also find benefit here. Thank you.

Marc Randolph (@thatwillneverwork) is a veteran Silicon Valley entrepreneur, advisor, and investor. Marc was co-founder of Netflix, serving as their founding CEO,  the executive producer of their web site, and a member of their board of directors. Although best known for starting Netflix, Marc’s career as an entrepreneur spans more than four decades.  He has founded or co-founded more than half a dozen other successful start-ups, mentored rising entrepreneurs—including the co-founders of Looker Data, which was recently sold to Google for $2.6B—and invested in numerous successful tech ventures. He is a frequent speaker at industry events, works extensively with young entrepreneur programs, sits on the board of the environmental advocacy group 1% for the Planet, and chairs the National Outdoor Leadership School’s Board of Trustees. Website: https://www.marcrandolph.com/ Twitter: @mbrandolph Instagram: @thatwillneverwork Facebook: @marcbrandolph / https://www.facebook.com/marcbrandolph/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcrandolph 2:00 -  How Marc and his family became risk-encouraging—and how this set him up for success 12:30 - Influential entrepreneurs Marc has worked with and how that shaped his experience 22:00 - Netflix now vs. its humble beginnings and the beauty of startups 25:00 - What if Blockbuster had bought Netflix? 26:30 - The role of mentorship 36:45 - Culture and vision 1:00:45 - American exceptionalism and success 

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David Hassell (@dhassell)  is a serial entrepreneur, business columnist, and  speaker who believes that when leaders support employees in becoming  their best selves, high engagement and performance and uncommon loyalty  naturally result.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidhassell/

https://www.15five.com/story/

https://medium.com/@dhassell

https://www.instagram.com/dhassell/

3:25 - Entrepreneurship as a form of rebellion

6:15 - The importance of continuity and creating something beyond yourself

7:55 - Life in “beige cubicle land”

10:25 - Why “surfing the net” isn’t really a thing any more

16:04 - Why you need both passion AND profit to thrive

18:25 - How helping others and adding value helps you succeed

23:13 - Why some companies succeed where others fail

25:35 - Why “best-self management” is more effective than performance management

26:25 - The inspiration behind fifteen/five reports: “Sorry, Yvonne [the CEO of Patagonia] is out surfing.”

35:35 - Company relational mastery: what it is and how to achieve it

48:47 - The future of work is collaborative

Connect with Gary Rabine and DDCEO:

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Check out https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ for this week's TOP 8 Business Growth strategies and subscribe to our newsletter to download Gary’s 13 Keys to Creating a Multi-Million Dollar Business.

Follow us on Instagram @DitchDiggerCEO (https://www.instagram.com/ditchdiggerceo/) for more helpful Business Growth tips.

Our goal is to inspire everyone to start their own business and help you grow it to millions or even billions in value so if you feel any benefit from this episode please let us know by leaving an iTunes review, sharing this episode on social media and emailing a link to anyone you think would also find benefit here. Thank you.

BONNIE LOW-KRAMEN (@BonnieLowKramen) is an international thought leader, speaker, bestselling author, and the founder and CEO of Ultimate Assistant Training. A celebrity assistant for 25 years to Oscar winner Olympia Dukakis, Bonnie is an award-winning speaker who empowers staff and executives alike to build ultimate partnerships that are both mutually respectful and profitable. She teaches the BTUA workshop all over the world and in fact, Gary’s EA Debbie Furlano has taken this class. Her work was featured in a Forbes 2019 cover story and her book, Be the Ultimate Assistant, is a must-have resource for every assistant.

Bonnie is passionately committed to ending workplace bullying and closing the wage gap as her way to build confident and courageous women in the world. In 14 countries and 38 states, Bonnie's gift is the ability to guide the humans of our workforce toward meaningful transformations that they feel on a visceral level and coming to solutions together that stand the test of time.

Website: https://www.bonnielowkramen.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bonnie.Low.Kramen

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BonnieLowKramen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonnielowkramen/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiOX60cn5nY&feature=emb_logo

11:15 Childhood impacts your whole career

15:00 The real value of great assistants

18:15 Bonnie’s team and her organization

22:00 Empowering the minority demographic

22:45 Finding and revealing greatness in others

52:45 Establishing/defining core values and respecting employees

1:04:45 Human beings just want autonomy

Connect with Gary Rabine and DDCEO:

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Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh03Px5ez_xe_oE_iJMMNIg/featured?view_as=subscriber

Check out https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ for this week's TOP 8 Business Growth strategies and subscribe to our newsletter to download Gary’s 13 Keys to Creating a Multi-Million Dollar Business.

Follow us on Instagram @DitchDiggerCEO (https://www.instagram.com/ditchdiggerceo/) for more helpful Business Growth tips.

Our goal is to inspire everyone to start their own business and help you grow it to millions or even billions in value so if you feel any benefit from this episode please let us know by leaving an iTunes review, sharing this episode on social media and emailing a link to anyone you think would also find benefit here. Thank you.

Robert Blackwell, Jr is the founder of Quant16, formerly EKI Digital, as well as a successful entrepreneur and former trader. He also founded Killerspin, the world’s leading table tennis engagement brand. The Killerspin experience reaches hundreds of thousands of people annually in over 160 countries around the world.

Robert has served on many civic boards over the course of his career, and he currently serves the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Civic Federation of Chicago, Business Leadership Council as well as being on the executive committee to Choose Chicago.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Blackwell_Jr.

http://robertblackwelljr.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-blackwell-jr-4218023/

13:40 Growing up in the first black family in the Western suburbs of Chicago

22:35 Three great pieces of advice from Robert’s father

26:00 How Robert got his Mom to quit smoking.

36:37 Why Robert gets rid of stuff as soon as he starts to get too attached

51:24 Robert’s greatest blessings in life

1:3:02 The decline of black neighborhoods in America, and what Robert’s doing to combat it

1:16:20 Why you should avoid being a “minority business”

1:17:15 Be #1 in the world at something (anything), and you’ll never be broke

1:25:57 Robert’s take on responsible giving and how to revitalize free enterprise

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Steve Grubbs (https://www.victoryenterprises.com + https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-grubbs-4708825/) is an Internet and technology entrepreneur, having founded four companies: Victory XR, Paradigm, Victory Enterprises, and VictoryStore.com.

In 2016, VictoryXR was founded, which produces virtual reality curriculum for schools. In 2018, Intel invited VictoryXR to participate in its mentorship program and Microsoft licensed it’s content.

Viveport awarded VictoryXR its award for best education VR content for 2018.

In 2018, Paradigm, an early virtual reality and esports tech center was opened. Its model combines virtual reality, esports, STEM tutoring and corporate VR training to create an LBE model that is sustainable.

Steve Founded Victory Enterprises in 1997 and built the first websites for the cities of Davenport, Moline and Eldridge.

In 1999, Steve founded VictoryStore.com, which has grown to be an umbrella organization for more than 25 eCommerce sites. VictoryStore.com has been recognized by Internet Retailer magazine as one of the largest eCommerce stores in the United States.

Steve served as Chairman of the Young Presidents Organization international technology network. This network had more than 3,000 tech CEO's as members.

Steve also served previously as an Iowa legislator from ‘90-’96 and in that capacity, was chair of the House Education Committee which passed the state’s first technology funding bill.

2:14 Steve’s intro and values: always an entrepreneur

8:53 VR simulator and scenario training for job safety

12:18 Applications to social services, etc.

18:14 Why VR is the most effective tool for learning

21:18 VR tech success stories

24:31 Steve’s unique model for supporting new tech and investors

27:01 Are entrepreneurs born or made?

38:30 Upbringing

43:29 Biggest mentors and best lessons

Connect with Gary Rabine and DDCEO:

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Check out https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ for this week's TOP 8 Business Growth strategies and subscribe to our newsletter to download Gary’s 13 Keys to Creating a Multi-Million Dollar Business.

Follow us on Instagram @DitchDiggerCEO (https://www.instagram.com/ditchdiggerceo/) for more helpful Business Growth tips.

Our goal is to inspire everyone to start their own business and help you grow it to millions or even billions in value so if you feel any benefit from this episode please let us know by leaving an iTunes review, sharing this episode on social media and emailing a link to anyone you think would also find benefit here. Thank you.

Scott Robinson (www.rrgexec.com) has 35 years of experience in the human capital industry. After founding and leading the largest full-service human resources firm in the Midwest, Scott returned to his entrepreneurial roots to launch Robinson Resource Group, where he now continues to serve as a trusted advisor to executives in the C-Suite.

Scott is certified by the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches as a Registered Corporate Coach™-one of fewer than 1000 such certified Coaches worldwide. He is also a member of the Institute of Coaching Professional Association at McLean Hospital—a Harvard Medical School affiliate and is certified in the Hogan Assessment and the full suite of MRG assessment tools.

In addition to serving on several BODs, Scott is highly active in many business organizations including The Executives’ Club of Chicago (ECC), the Young Presidents Organization (YPO Gold), the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) and the ESOP Association.

2:30 Executive coaching and executive search

6:00 It’s all about the culture fit

24:20 Effective extrication from a direct management to a high-level leadership position

29:43 How to prep for future executive success

30:40 One company’s culture fit is another company’s NOPE

40:10 How Scott’s small-town upbringing informed his values

48:00 Relationship building as marketing; customer service is king

52:00 Transition from Counseling to Coaching & one essential ingredient for success: a supportive partner

1:1:30 Understanding what motivates your employees and clients

1:11:20 Never underestimate the power of a great Executive Assistant and a great team

Connect with Gary Rabine and DDCEO:

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Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh03Px5ez_xe_oE_iJMMNIg

Check out https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ for this week's TOP 8 Business Growth strategies and subscribe to our newsletter to download Gary’s 13 Keys to Creating a Multi-Million Dollar Business.

Follow us on Instagram @DitchDiggerCEO (https://www.instagram.com/ditchdiggerceo/) for more helpful Business Growth tips.

Our goal is to inspire everyone to start their own business and help you grow it to millions or even billions in value so if you feel any benefit from this episode please let us know by leaving an iTunes review, sharing this episode on social media and emailing a link to anyone you think would also find benefit here. Thank you.

Bruce Leon is the founder and CEO of Tandem HR (www.tandemhr.com). Tandem is a Chicago-based professional employer organization that prides itself on its customized human resource solutions. Tandem provides high-touch, tailored HR solutions in payroll, benefit administration, people management, risk management and organizational development. Bruce Leon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruce-leon-23601311/ 5:30 - Bruce’s childhood - don’t get caught up in 11:45 - Lost mother when he was 19 15:00 - Life is a roller coaster 24:00 - Starting an HR company 36:00 - 2 to 100 employees “Billion in payroll” 40:30 - Biggest differentiators 46:00 - The world’s greatest mailman. 51:30 - Where do you go from here? Steve Jobs story 56:00 - Developing people from within 1:03:30 - Dash in the middle 1:04:30 - Could you have built this company anywhere else? 1:14:00 - When people ask you advice 

Connect with Gary Rabine and DDCEO:

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Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh03Px5ez_xe_oE_iJMMNIg

Check out https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ for this week's TOP 8 Business Growth strategies and subscribe to our newsletter to download Gary’s 13 Keys to Creating a Multi-Million Dollar Business.

Follow us on Instagram @DitchDiggerCEO (https://www.instagram.com/ditchdiggerceo/) for more helpful Business Growth tips.

Our goal is to inspire everyone to start their own business and help you grow it to millions or even billions in value so if you feel any benefit from this episode please let us know by leaving an iTunes review, sharing this episode on social media and emailing a link to anyone you think would also find benefit here. Thank you.

Michael Crafton (@MichaelCrafton2) is the President and CEO of Nelbud Services Group, a life safety services company he founded in 2005 with $800 and built into a global leader with more than 20 locations and over 30,000 recurring customers.  Michael has successfully steered Nelbud through (2) private equity buyouts, multiple buy-side acquisitions, and engineered numerous change management style company transformations over the past 15 years.  Michael has pioneered several industry leading technology platforms that have helped enhance the organization and position itself as a luxury brand.  Michael has a B.S. in Business from Indiana University, is very active in numerous community organizations, and an avid traveler. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-crafton/ + http://instagram.com/michaelcrafton2)

3:00 How Michael developed his work ethic

6:45 Who instilled money management in you?

8:45 Never missed practice, but never once looked at a playbook.

12:15 80% of success is showing up

15:15 How important is a friend group for your career/business?

17:15 Value of Networking

18:45 Michael’s business story

25:30 Million dollar lessons from entry level jobs

39:00 Mindset to stay motivated

41:30 Maintaining valuable relationships

52:00 Future of Nelbud?

55:45 How did you come up with CHAPTERS?

58:00 Growth and differentiation

1:02:00 How to avoid chasing shiny objects

1:05:00 Delivering value to customers

1:11:30 Fix what’s wrong instead of firing

1:17:30 Could you have done this in any other country?

Connect with Gary Rabine and DDCEO:

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Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh03Px5ez_xe_oE_iJMMNIg

Check out https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ for this week's TOP 8 Business Growth strategies and subscribe to our newsletter to download Gary’s 13 Keys to Creating a Multi-Million Dollar Business.

Follow us on Instagram @DitchDiggerCEO (https://www.instagram.com/ditchdiggerceo/) for more helpful Business Growth tips.

Our goal is to inspire everyone to start their own business and help you grow it to millions or even billions in value so if you feel any benefit from this episode please let us know by leaving an iTunes review, sharing this episode on social media and emailing a link to anyone you think would also find benefit here. Thank you.

Sylvie Légère is the co-founder and President of The Policy Circle (http://www.thepolicycircle.org), a national grassroots network with a mission to educate, inspire and develop community leaders. Equipped with facts, policy circle women get involved in the governance of their communities, and assert their voices into dialogs on the impact of public policy on creativity and entrepreneurship. Sylvie spent her career in technology program management, including infrastructure and learning technologies, at firms such as Accenture, TD Ameritrade, and JP Morgan Chase. She was the co-owner of a bicycle shop, and is also an investor in start-ups committed to connecting people from vulnerable communities to jobs. Sylvie earned an undergraduate degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Ottawa, Canada, and a Master’s in Computer Science with a specialization in the Learning Sciences from Northwestern University, in Evanston, Illinois.

5:00 Sylvie’s childhood; father was a politician

11:55 First job at Accenture

15:35 Problem solving

18:04 STEM and going into computer science

21:49 “Raise your gaze” - [Elise Stefanik]

23:37 Gary worked in a factory during winters

27:11 Knowing your industry

28:21 7 habits of highly effective people

34:50 The Policy Circle starting

48:13 Policy Library: over 300 circles; busy women

52:56 Finding the middle ground

55:30 The goal of The Policy Circle: eliminate conflict and focus on facts

1:01:20 Mentors / DiSC is most valuable tool

1:05:48 3500 members

1:11:11 Talked to JCN

1:15:28 Could you do this in any other country?

1:17:31 Quinton’s true takeaways

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