Lessons in the Trenches

Joe Delagrave, Paralympic wheelchair rugby player, joins us on the show today! Joe talks about everything going on for the Olympics in Tokyo, to starting his own podcast for the wheelchair rugby community. Joe's biggest lesson was how to overcome a large identity crisis in football when he broke his spine in a boating accident. From division three college football, to representing Team USA, Joe has an incredibly impactful story to share!

Bryce Rudisill, owner of Top Tier Grading Company joins us on the podcast! Bryce talks about how he used his dads resources to his advantage in his business, as well as sharing what he knows about starting a business in his twenties. Bryce finishes off the episode by giving advice to others in the millennial/Gen-Z generation!

Former CEO of Gundersen Lutheran, Jeff Thompson joins us on the show today to talk about his life experiences. Jeff is a modern day example of starting at the bottom and working your way to the top, and shares with us how he went about doing that in a hospital with 7,000 staff, and over a billion dollars of community money. Stay tuned for episode 2, where we get more into what advice Mr. Thompson has for the younger generation.

Former CEO of Gundersen Lutheran, Jeff Thompson joins us on the show today to talk about his life experiences. Jeff is a modern day example of starting at the bottom and working your way to the top, and shares with us how he went about doing that in a hospital with 7,000 staff, and over a billion dollars of community money. Stay tuned for episode 2, where we get more into what advice Mr. Thompson has for the younger generation.

In this episode, Mr. Skogen talks about how he is always trying new things in his stores, and how he goes about doing that. A big focus of the podcast is breaking down his business strategy of the "Boomerang" which, like a boomerang, always comes back! Mr. Skogen also talks about the beginnings of Festival Foods, and how he got to the point of creating such a chain across the upper Midwest. Finally, Dave gives his advice to what he's looking for in someone he's looking at hiring!

President of Firefighters Credit Union, we have the Money Man on the show! Bruce talks about how he got to where he was, and how he wasn't, and still isn't always liked by others. Bruce also mentions how much of a knucklehead he was in his youth, and what the big tipping point was. Further along into the show, Mr. Zmolek shows the importance of having a budget and saving your money for college, and shares his saving choices for his kids. Bruce ends the episode with his advice for young adults...

Gerald Baldner, entrepreneur, author, president, CEO, the list goes on and on! Gerald gives his whole background on his life, and what led up to starting multiple, (and very successful) companies throughout the years! Being a very impactful leader in all his businesses, Gerald talks about the younger generation, and what his advice to the younger generation would be! Gerald's main point that he gets across is how to be an effective leader, not just in the workplace, but in your own life!

Speedy Mason's National Sales Manager, Tony Szak joins Jackson on the show today. Along with starting his own large construction company, being the head of Leading with Power, and having an active role in a head/board member of numerous other organizations, Tony has some great insight! Finding himself in a major depression after losing his construction company, Tony had to learn to put his identity in other things besides exclusively his company. He also shares his thoughts on being an entrep...

INC 5000 business owner Dave Twite shares some of his vast life experiences that got him to where he is now. In his childhood, Mr. Twite sold EVERYTHING, whether it be newspapers or cards, he did it. Taking a job at a lumbermill as a young adult, Mr. Twite worked in the sawdust and mud, that was eventually rewarded with a sales job for MacDonald and Owen, the very company Mr. Twite now owns and has grown internationally. Mr. Twite also talks about his internal struggle, such as how he was suc...

From rags to riches, from Main Street to Wall Street, join host Jackson Odenbach as he plunges into the stories of leaders, influencers, and trendsetters to answer just one question: What is the number one lesson you have learned in life?