Decidedly I Decision Tips for Business Owners

Ep.171 I Deciding to Strengthen Your Family Business: Is it About Titles, or Talents? with David Kolbe


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What happens when family dynamics intersect with business strategy?

 

David Kolbe, CEO of Kolbe Corp, shares the highs and hurdles of taking the reins in a family business. With roots in his grandfather’s Wonderlic Test and his mother’s Kolbe Index, David explains how understanding instincts and strengths has shaped his leadership, his family relationships, and the way he keeps fresh ideas flowing.

 

KEY TOPICS

  • What happens when your boss is also your parent (or you’re the parent).
    • The real impact of job titles and why your team might care more than you think.
      • Knowing when to pass the torch as a business founder.
        • How to balance creative freedom with practical strategy in a family business.
        •  

          CHAPTERS

          00:00 Intro: Defeating Bad Decision-Making in Life and

          Business 

          05:29 David Kolbe on Growing Up in a Family Business 

          07:51 Wonderlic Test: Its NFL Legacy and Origins 

          10:16 From Law to Leadership: Why David Joined Kolbe

          Corp 

          12:30 Working with Family: Lessons from the Trenches 

          14:54 Navigating Family Dynamics in Business Decisions 

          17:16 When Family Disagreements Rattle the Workplace 

          19:40 How Kolbe Corp Helps Leaders Leverage Strengths 

          22:04 When Quick Start Leaders Meet High Follow-Through

          Teams 

          24:26 Strategic Vision vs. Tactical Execution in Leadership 

          26:50 Why Most Businesses Aren’t Built for Innovation 

          29:08 The Key to Selling a Business Worth Buying 

          31:32 Structuring Teams for Growth Without Chaos 

          33:52 Letting Go: How Founders Transition Leadership 

          36:17 When the Visionary Isn’t the Business Owner 

          38:38 Avoiding Cultural Stagnation in Family Businesses 

          40:53 Building Innovation Departments That Last 

          43:16 When Tradition Holds a Business Back 

          45:37 Empowering Quick Start Talent Without Losing

          Control 

          47:59 Why Accurate Job Titles Matter for Teams 

          50:14 The Risk of Over-Titling Employees 

          52:39 Creating a Fun and Caring Workplace Culture 

          55:00 What “Mandatory Fun” Teaches About Leadership 

          57:17 David Kolbe’s Decision-Making Tip for Business Owners 

          59:10 Key Takeaways 

          1:01:00 Message from the Producer

           

          CONNECT WITH US

          ⁠www.decidedlypodcast.com⁠

          Watch this episode on YouTube

          Subscribe on YouTube

          Join us on Instagram: @decidedlypodcast

          Join us on Facebook

          Shawn’s Instagram: @shawn_d_smith

          Sanger’s Instagram: @sangersmith

           

           

          Thank you to Shelby Peterson of Transcend Media for editing

          and post-production of the Decidedly podcast.

           

          SANGER’S BOOK: ⁠A Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful Impact⁠

           

          SHAWN’S BOOK: ⁠Plateau Jumping: What to Change When Change Is What You Want⁠

           

          MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION?

          At ⁠Decidedly Wealth Management⁠, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy. 

          LEARN MORE: ⁠www.decidedlywealth.com⁠

           

          SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

           

          CONNECT WITH DAVID KOLBE

          Website: https://www.kolbe.com/ 

          Book “Do More More Naturally: Empowering

          Effortless Success and the Freedom to Be Yourself”: https://a.co/d/h8he2iG 

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

          TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@poweredbyinstinct 

          Kolbe LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kolbe-corp/ 

          David’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-kolbe-b352a99/ 

          YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KolbeCorp 

          Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KolbeCorp 

          X: https://x.com/Kolbe_Corp 

           

          As CEO of Kolbe Corp, David Kolbe is committed to helping people use their natural instincts to thrive. The Kolbe A™ Index helps people understand their instinctive strengths and how to use them to tackle challenges. David’s all about making our instincts work for us, not against us—turning what comes naturally into real-world results that drive success at home and in business. 

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          Decidedly I Decision Tips for Business OwnersBy Sanger Smith and Shawn Smith

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