Let Them Lead

Rosalie Tocco-Bradley Is the Chief Clinical Officer of Trinity Health Michigan, which includes eight hospitals, ten outpatient surgical centers and nine emergency departments. For the past two years, she has also served as the COVID Response Incident Commander for all of Trinity Health Michigan – a job you’d wish on no one. Growing up she would watch through the fence while her brothers played baseball, and know that she should be out there, too. To overcome the stigma against women in a male-dominated field, she learned to define herself; When your bosses ask for volunteers, raise your hand”; no role is too big or small for you not to do your best; leadership is not a popularity contest; and have a full life outside of your work. You not only live a better life, it actually helps you do your work better, too.

After 11 very eventful years as the Executive Director of the Boston Athletic Association, which conducts the Boston Marathon, Tom Grilk will step down after this year’s race. Years ago he told his wife that the stress of being an attorney was going to cause him to start drinking or start running. He picked running, which led to sub-3:00 marathons and his current post. He led the Marathon, the world’s greatest race, through extremes of hot and cold, and the bombing of 2013.  His take-aways include: You can’t afford not to exercise; we need to be together, and we need to help others – for our own sake; if you’re people are truly prepared, they’re ready to make decisions under pressure on the spot, and adapt to changing conditions; and finally, from General Patton: Don’t tell your people how to get there, just tell them where you need to go. They’ll find more ingenious ways to do it than you ever imagined.

Casey Cowell, son of a Detroit plumber, played goalie with the sons of Gordie Howe, and won a national title. He took that confidence with him to the University of Chicago, and at 24, turned $200 into a $2.5 billion company called U.S. Robotics, for many years the nation’s biggest designer and manufacturer of modems. Some pro tips: A strong team of dedicated B-players will beat an uncommitted team of All-Stars every time; If you can’t be good, be enthusiastic! Enthusiasm attracts the right people, and self-confidence leads them; You can’t lead out of fear, so when in doubt, act! You cannot inch your way to a revolution.

For info about the book or this podcast please visit our website:

http://www.letthemleadbybacon.com

http://www.johnubacon.com

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Longtime president of Michigan’s famed University Musical Society, Ken Fischer explains how this small town attracts world-class talent like Leonard Bernstein, Yo-Yo Ma, Wynton Marsalis, and the Royal Shakespeare Company. But the best insight is Fischer’s guiding principle: "Everybody In, Nobody Out.” His take-aways include: A ‘no’ is the first step to a ‘yes’!; You have to touch their heart; Get out of the tower, and into the community. You can’t lead people you don’t know.

For info about the book or this podcast please visit our website:

http://www.letthemleadbybacon.com

http://www.johnubacon.com

You can connect with John via these platforms:

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Tom Miller turned down Penn’s prestigious Wharton School of Business to join his high school girlfriend at the University of Michigan. His father objected, but he’s been married to Bonnie for 52 years, and has a record-tying five degrees from U-M, including an honorary diploma for giving a graduation speech in 2003. He entered foreign service on a lark, and ended up being named the U.S. Ambassador to Greece over major donors – right after 9/11, and right before the 2004 Athens Olympics. Some lessons: Lead from the front, not the back; When things go wrong, be the first to start cleaning up the mess; Gather your team at a round table, not a rectangular one.

For info about the book or this podcast please visit our website:

http://www.letthemleadbybacon.com

http://www.johnubacon.com

You can connect with John via these platforms:

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https://twitter.com/Johnubacon

Hearst Television named Jordan Wertlieb president in 2013, leading 33 stations in 26 U.S. markets, plus digital properties, 2 radio stations, and more than 70 programming streams with multicast channels. He caught the TV bug in high school, and along the way learned a few things: the heart of your education might not be in the classroom; don’t be afraid to ask for help; and every role has lessons to teach you if you’re humble enough to learn them.

This weeks 3 take aways:

- Your education might not be in the classroom

- Don’t be afraid to ask for help

- Every role can teach you if you’re humble enough to learn.

For info about the book or this podcast please visit our website:

http://www.letthemleadbybacon.com

http://www.johnubacon.com

You can connect with John via these platforms:

https://www.facebook.com/johnubacon

https://twitter.com/Johnubacon

For info about the book or this podcast please visit our website:

http://www.letthemleadbybacon.com

http://www.johnubacon.com

You can connect with John via these platforms:

https://www.facebook.com/johnubacon

https://twitter.com/Johnubacon

Jim Barahal’s first career would have been enough. After graduating from medical school he moved to Hawaii, started making house calls – unheard of in 1982 – and built a thriving practice, “Doctors on Call,” with 19 clinics and 60,000 patients a year, then sold most of it to Hawaii Pacific Health. He then took over the Honolulu Marathon in 1987, and built it into the world’s biggest by 1995. Take-aways: Consistency beats talent (the marathoner’s credo!); the business you start in is often not the business you end up in; if you recognize the hidden niche where others don't can be a great opportunity. Learning how to lead is a separate skill to learn.

For info about the book or this podcast please visit our website:

http://www.letthemleadbybacon.com

http://www.johnubacon.com

You can connect with John via these platforms:

https://www.facebook.com/johnubacon

https://twitter.com/Johnubacon

Scott DeRue became the dean of Michigan’s Ross School of Business at the ripe age of 38, and pumped up revenue, research, and rankings. He then became the President of Equinox, the leading high-end fitness chain with 105 clubs, and 10,000 employees, and somehow managed to climb Mt. Everest and other peaks on the side. His quote in LET THEM LEAD: “Lead as though you have no power, because you have no power.” Also, “Never tell anyone what they can’t do,” and “Run to the fire, not from it.”

HTTP://www.equinox.com

For info about the book or this podcast please visit our website:

http://www.letthemleadbybacon.com

http://www.johnubacon.com

You can connect with John via these platforms:

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https://twitter.com/Johnubacon

Our guest today is Bill Martin, who has worn more leadership hats than most. After being told by a high school teacher that he "would never go anywhere," Martin set out to prove him wrong, and did so, in spades! He started his business career while getting his MBA at Michigan with a $500 emergency student loan, and turned that into an $18,000 profit. First Martin Corporation, a property development and management company, is now second only to the University of Michigan itself as the biggest land-owner in Washtenaw County. On the side, he also started Bank of Ann Arbor, which now has almost three dozen branches, and Casey's Tavern, a popular spot a block from his office. Somehow, he also managed to lead the U-M athletic department for a decade, transforming its facilities, morale, and economic health, and serve as president of the U.S.O.C., turning around that organization, too. He's done it all based on a few simple, if not easy, principles. Find out how on Let Them Lead.

This week I take a few minutes to look back at the Let Them Lead Podcast's first year: the idea behind the podcast, some of the highlights our 15 great guests have given us, including their memorable take-aways, and what we have to look forward to in 2022. I've greatly enjoyed getting to talk with some of the best and brightest leaders in business, sports, higher education, food service, high-tech, and more. You might discover you missed a great episode, and want to go back and check it out. Easy to do! And we hope you're intrigued by our list of upcoming guests, and make sure you stay in touch with Let Them Lead, and spread the word. Make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode.

For info about the book or this podcast please visit our website:

http://www.letthemleadbybacon.com

http://www.johnubacon.com

You can connect with John via these platforms:

https://www.facebook.com/johnubacon

https://twitter.com/Johnubacon