Adam Frederico grew up in Utah, surrounded by entrepreneurial family members, including his father, Russell Frederico, the founder of what is now Frederico Outdoor Living. A BYU graduate from the Marriott School, Adam spent 8 years in Chicago working in corporate America, startups, and consulting. He later pursued an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. It was during this experience that Adam decided to buy the family business and grow within the green industry. Adam aims to expand upon the 40-year legacy his father started. The company has been named to Lawn and Landscape Magazine’s “Best Places to Work” list multiple times, had projects featured in the Utah Valley Parade of Homes, and has won four “Best Landscaping Awards.”

SHOW SUMMARY 

In this episode of the Disruptive Successor Podcast, host Jonathan Goldhill talks with Adam Frederico, a next-generation leader who took over his family's landscape business, Frederico Outdoor Living. Adam shares his journey from corporate America to entrepreneurship, his experience implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), and the challenges and successes in transitioning and growing the family business. With insights on leadership, culture, and maintaining family harmony, this episode provides valuable lessons for anyone involved in a family business or considering a significant business transformation.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Transitioning from Corporate to Family Business: Adam shares his personal journey from working in corporate America to taking over his family’s landscape business, Frederico Outdoor Living.
• Implementing EOS for Growth: Adam discusses how he successfully implemented the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to streamline operations, align his team, and drive business growth.
• Leadership and Family Harmony: Key insights into the challenges of leading a family business, maintaining family harmony, and creating a balanced leadership culture that fosters success.
• Overcoming Challenges in Business Succession: Adam highlights the unique obstacles of transitioning leadership in a family business, and how he navigated those challenges to ensure continuity and growth.
• Lessons for Next-Gen Leaders: Valuable advice for the next generation of leaders in family businesses, emphasizing the importance of leadership, culture, and strategic vision.
• Creating a Strong Company Culture: Adam explains how fostering a positive company culture has been instrumental in driving both employee satisfaction and business success.
• Advice for Family Business Owners: Practical lessons on how to sustain and grow a family business while preserving the legacy of previous generations.

QUOTES

• "Entrepreneurship for me was taking something that was existing and making it better."
• "What differentiates a company is the process... It's how we deliver that client experience."
• "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."
• "It's not just about catching a vision and talking about growth, it needs to be a co-created vision."
• "When those [one-on-ones] are consistent and really thoughtful, we are doing very well because the team feels aligned."
• "The green industry is a bit slow to adopt newer management practices... but it’s important to connect with employees on a personal level."

Connect and learn more about Adam Frederico and his company:

Adam's LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamfrederico/
Adam's Company: Frederico Outdoor Living: 
https://www.linkedin.com/company/frederico-outdoor-living/

If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe, review, and share with a friend who would benefit from the message. If you’re interested in picking up a copy of Jonathan Goldhill’s book, Disruptive Successor, go to the website at
 www.DisruptiveSuccessor.com