While there are many unique and innovative aspects of Swagelok Northern California s, culture, one jumps out at you very soon after arriving at this Fremont California based industrial distributor. You go into most organizations, and if there are portraits of individuals on the walls, more often than not, these pictures are of the founder of [...]

What would it take to become your customer s favorite story? At Swagelok Northern California, Becoming Our Customer s Favorite Story is not only their stated vision, it has become embedded into the day to day actions of every employee. As Rod Fallow, President of Swagelok Northern California will tell us, the world, our businesses, and our [...]

Jeffrey Hayzlett likes to ask you if you are ready to saddle up and ride. He is a cowboy at heart, with the mind and drive of a business leader that builds great things. His new book Think Big Act Bigger – The Rewards of Being Relentless launches to the world today. And I m excited [...]

Let s start with the end. In the end, what makes the difference between a good company and a great company is leadership. The ultimate success of a department, a region, an operations the success of your company comes down to you. It s leader. Leadership makes the difference. In this episode, Todd Talbot, president of [...]

So what do you think about value engineering? It s just one topic that Todd Talbot, president of Fluidmaster and I explore as we dig into this innovative company s business model. You see, we both agree that too many use the term value engineering as code for I m going to cross reference a product number and [...]

If you are like most, your customers have accused you of selling commodities. Am I right? In this episode, Todd Talbot president of Fluidmaster reminds us that commodities are created by industry leading firms who elect to compete on price, rather than to innovate. As the world has gotten a smaller, competitors – traditional and [...]

In INNOVATE! I define innovation as: Leading customers to a better future for which they are willing and capable of rewarding you. Within this definition it s important to note that innovation is not reserved for the Apples of the world. Small companies like Big Agnes in Steamboat Streams, Colorado that think big, put their customers [...]

As Todd Talbot took over as President at Fluidmaster, turnover was peaking at about 30% per year. At best an average company to be a part of. Within four years, and a intention transformation of the culture, that turnover has been slashed to around 7% and Fluidmaster is now ranked as one of the top [...]

Alvin Toffler the futurist reminds us that The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who can not read and write. The illiterate of the 21st century he tells us, will be those who can not learn, unlearn, and relearn. This bonus episode explores how two days away from your business, joining over [...]

Words are powerful. They have shaped history. From the Magna Carta, to the Declaration of Independence. From “I have a dream” to “We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” And of course from Steve Jobs “Think Different” to [...]