Relative Profitability

Lynda is the multiple award-winning Owner, President, and CEO of the Washington, D.C.-based Capitol Concierge. Under her leadership, the Capitol Concierge brand has become synonymous with best-in-class service and top-notch professionalism.

Lynda was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada and developed a passion for customer service at an early age. She started a babysitting company when she was 12, when the going rate for babysitting was a quarter an hour. She learned the lesson of value-based pricing by happenstance, when the father of three young girls asked her at the end of the night how much he owed her. Instead of giving a direct answer, she told him to pay whatever he thought it was worth to him. She walked away that night, not with the typical 75 cents, but a crisp twenty dollar bill! Join us on this episode to hear this story and more on Lynda's journey to becoming owner of Capitol Concierge!

Highlights from this episode

• Lynda's values in business and life. [6:38]
• Lynda's first business venture. [8:44]
• How Lynda took an idea and turned it into a business that sold to Neiman Marcus. [20:00]

Make your energy work for you

Lynda was raised by her father in Las Vegas and credits him with teaching her the first life lesson that left a lasting impression. Filled with love, her father was born and raised in Belfast and focused on character, determination and reputation. Some early lessons that stuck with Lynda were that you are only as good as your word, to be accountable for your actions and to give back.

Lynda was in fifth grade when in a fit of temper, she broke something. Her dad told her that she could make that energy work for her or against her, and that she had just made it work against her. She said this lesson helped her learn to stop and breathe — take a step back first — before reacting. This lesson has stayed with her throughout her life. 

The only thing holding you back is you

When Lynda was 22, she moved to Japan to be closer to her now-husband. She said that agreements in place in Japan at the time prevented her from getting a job. However, another of her dad's rich lessons came into play during the nine years she was in Japan. He taught her that the only thing holding you back is you. As long as you believe that, you can work to overcome anything. She said it was very hard, but she found a way to get the status she needed (called Status of Forces) and worked for the Red Cross until she became pregnant. This was in the early 1970's, and Lynda lost her job when she became pregnant. 

Lynda was able to find another position with Chrysler International Worldwide, ultimately becoming their sales administrator. Her belief in herself led her to make many changes while with Chrysler — both for the company and their import business as well as for herself. She was able to lower their import fees drastically, and attributes that to the many lessons she learned by observing and living among the Japanese culture. Listen to this episode to hear all of the lessons she learned while overseas!

Keep looking for the unique opportunities

Once Lynda and her family returned to the states, there were some rough patches where she was going to school, raising their daughter and working three part-time jobs to help keep them afloat after her husband lost his job. Lynda's early life taught her how to look for unique opportunities — one such unlikely opportunity led her to selling a small company she created to Neiman Marcus! Lynda's curiosity and ingenuity led her down a path that ultimately led to her working for and eventually buying Captiol Concierge. Listen to the fascinating journey Lynda took to get her to this point!

Connect with Lynda Ellis

• Capitol Concierge
• Capitol Concierge on Facebook
• Follow Lynda on LinkedIn
• Capitol Concierge on Twitter
• Capitol Concierge on Instagram

Connect With Rich Daughtridge

• www.Daughtridge.com
• Follow on Facebook
• Follow on Instagram
• Follow on Linkedin
• Follow on Twitter
• Subscribe on YouTube

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On the last episode of The Relative Profitability podcast, you got to hear about Nate Salatin's early days of entrepreneurship — he got his entrepreneurial start selling duck eggs to restaurants as a young teen! Nate is president and co-founder of Atlas Navigator and has helped us in the past with our performance management systems. In this episode hear all about the tips and tricks Nate has learned along the way on his truly impressive entrepreneurship journey. 

Highlights from this episode

• What Nate has learned to maintain balance. [2:20] 
• The key things you need to expand your impact. [3:07] 
• Nate's personal purpose: create opportunity for others [6:04]
• One of the challenges of entrepreneurs. [8:19] 
• Advice to young entrepreneurs. [11:55]

The keys to expanding your business impact

What kind of impact will you and your business have? Nate says to expand your impact, both personally and professionally, you have to look at a few key things — relationships, experiences, and resources — and figure out how you can have the most impact with these. 

He said finding that which aligned with who and what he was would give him the most experiences.Too often, once people graduate from college, they coast. They stop aggressively pushing their own comfort zones and stop expanding their experiences. 

It's the same with relationships. When Nate started looking for a job, he was all about networking but said he got comfortable in what he was doing and the networking stopped. Relationships are incremental. They don't happen overnight. You have to keep investing in them. Listen to this episode to hear about how Nate integrates the last key factor — his resources — into the equation!

Impact = vision

Nate believes impact must be built into strategic planning. He said impact becomes just as important as marketing, finance, and operations. He sees impact as the fourth core business function. In order to build it into his business strategy, he asks the question: What are we going to do over the next 90 days to make an impact based on our core values and beliefs? Nate calls this a vision and thinks about it as a lens or filter of those core values — the things he is passionate about. 

Nate talked about many more important aspects and values needed for a successful business. Among some he mentioned were the value of connection, teamwork, and playing to your strengths. One of the things he knew he must have in order to be successful starting out was a cofounder. Teamwork is very important to him. He also mentioned self-awareness and staying vulnerable among the valuable qualities of a good leader. Listen to hear how he combines all of these values into one cohesive plan! 

Advice to young entrepreneurs

Nate had two pieces of great advice for young entrepreneurs. The first? Build a team — before you actually need a team. Start investing in those relationships from the start. When you inspire someone to join you — to contribute to your vision — they bring their relationships, experiences, and resources with them. NEVER underestimate the value of a relationship and how it can contribute to your vision. And that brings us to his second piece of advice — make sure you HAVE a vision. Listen in to hear what Nate says about honing your vision — you do not want to miss this conclusion!

Connect with Nate Salatin

• Atlas Navigator
• Follow Nate on LinkedIn
• Follow Atlas Navigator on Twitter

Connect With Rich Daughtridge

• www.Daughtridge.com
• Follow on Facebook
• Follow on Instagram
• Follow on Linkedin
• Follow on Twitter
• Subscribe on YouTube

Subscribe to Relative Profitability on Apple Podcasts, Spotify

Nate Salatin is president and co-founder of Atlas Navigator and has helped us in the past with our performance management systems. He has a wide range of experiences and shares his philosophy around having that wide experience base with us in part one of my interview. 

Nate was a missionary kid in Indonesia until his family moved back to the states when he was 12. He worked on his uncle's organic farm as a teenager. This led to his first business as a kid, selling duck eggs with his brother. They sold to some of the best pastry restaurants in Richmond! He said this first business was where the entrepreneur bug first started for him. Nate enlisted in the marine corp reserves then went to Virginia Military Institute in between deployments. He describes entrepreneurship as "build your own future, write your own story" and a big part of his life. Listen to all of his great stories and advice on this episode!

Highlights from this episode

• How Nate describes entrepreneurship[3:52]
• How the military helped shape Nate's vision of leadership and entrepreneurship. [6:10]
• The most precious commodity in today's world. [10:43]
• How Nate shapes his goals. [16:36]
• The incredible link between development and performance. [24:39]

The military and log cabins

Nate enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves as a combat engineer. His initial plan was to be a marine corps officer. He learned so much about leadership and what it means to be part of a values-driven culture. Those lessons — grit, camaraderie, and a team mentality — have filtered through the rest of his life and helped him become the strong leader he is today. 

When Nate wasn't on deployment, he fine-tuned his entrepreneurial skills at Cedar Valley Contracting, where he worked on a crew that built log cabins. He worked with Cedar Valley while taking a heavy course load at Virginia Military Academy. He also started a business with his friend that supervised the crew he worked for during this time! Nate said this is the only time he got a 4.0 at VMI because he was able to make a direct correlation between what he was doing on the job and what he was learning in class. Being in a position to read a book or learn new information and plug it directly into day to day operations is still one of his favorite things. 

Soul searching after the marine corps led Nate to his core values 

Nate said his purpose in life is centered around creating opportunity for others. He loves the sense of growth entrepreneurship brings and has three core values that have basically become his compass. Those values are influence, connection, and freedom, which connect to his three passions. He said they all align and stack on top of each other. Listen to this episode to hear Nate's three passions, and how they fit in with his core values and the goals he forms from those elements!

Atlas Navigator's big mission

Nate described Atlas Navigator as a people management and talent development company. He said the company is a tool that talent development managers, HR managers, and leaders use to define what skillsets are critical at that company. He defined a skillset as anything you can get better at. Atlas Navigator then defines what those things are and helps your employees link to content, mentorship, and coaching — the things that can help them progress. They further make sure the learning matches the person and how they can meet the learner where they are. AND they do it in a way that is scalable and effective from an organizational perspective. 

Most companies do NOT get intentional and focused on the front end. They wait to have a developmental conversation when employees are already in trouble. Nate believes that development is an investment today that pays dividends in the future. That is the "infinite game," especially if you are thinking about it as an entrepreneur leading a business. Listen to hear all about how Atlas Navigator revolutionizes employee development in the workplace — it's truly a fascinating conversation!

Resources & People Mentioned

• Infinite Game by Simon Sinek

• Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellenceby Daniel Goleman

Connect with Nate Salatin

• Atlas Navigator
• Follow Nate on LinkedIn
• Follow Atlas Navigator on Twitter

Connect With Rich Daughtridge

• www.Daughtridge.com
• Follow on Facebook
• Follow on Instagram
• Follow on Linkedin
• Follow on Twitter
• Subscribe on YouTube

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Author Joel Manby is the former CEO of SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment and also former CEO of Herschend Family Entertainment, which manages such brands as the Harlem Globetrotters and Dollywood. He has also spent time in the automobile industry. This second part of our interview takes a look at how things took off for Joel while at the same time, things seemed to fall apart. You will want to listen as Joel gives us great advice on how to balance success in the workplace with success at home!

Highlights from this episode

• One of the keys to finding a work/life balance. [4:00]
• Three key pieces of advice Joel loves to share on podcasts. [11:38]
• The 7 words that define love, the verb. [13:16]
• How you can get Joel's three-part series on how to lead through crisis. [16:42]

Be the role you are in

While with Herschend, Joel still traveled quite a bit but was managing to keep it within reason. Being happy with his work helped with his family life as well. He said that while he felt he had a good balance at the time, he was still always "on" for work. What this experience ultimately taught him was to BE the role you are in, in that particular moment. To enjoy the moment you're in because, in a flash, those moments are gone. In those moments, you are building and depositing into your relationships. When that five o'clock whistle blows, you really are investing in your family and kids. 

"There is always an excuse, but be the role you are in — physically — in the moment." - Joel Manby

Hitting rock bottom and learning from there

SeaWorld recruited Joel after thirteen years at Herschend. Being the CEO of a publicly-held company had always been on his bucket list. SeaWorld was going through a period of negative publicity due to the Blackfish movie coming out earlier that year. He took the position with them to help turn this negative image around. Within ninety days, he had a ten-point plan and things took off! Some board dynamics changed about halfway through this process and Joel says this is when things started falling apart. He said this is the point the situation became untenable.

Joel was under a lot of stress to perform during this time. He was working long days. He was not maintaining his relationships at home nor taking care of himself. He ended up divorcing in 2017 and resigning from SeaWorld the next year. Joel said that for him to lose the identity of his job and his 31-year marriage was definitely the worst part of his life. It was a wake-up call for him to realize he had not "put the love in the right order." He said he went through a lot of darkness, but there is a happy ending — listen in to learn how he turned it all around!

Where the magic is

Many companies define their values but what they don't do very often is define the processes behind them. You have to measure things — they have to be reviewed just like financial statements. People have to be incentivized. Joel says those process points — defining, reinforcing, promoting those values — are where the magic is. That is what he likes to help others do.

Love Works challenges you to think differently. The word "love" is often misunderstood in the context of business, When you describe it as "love, the verb" and apply the ideas of patience and kindness, plus the other five principles of the book, you begin seeing results. Joel's book is a great inspiration for leaders to take these principles into the workplace. Listen to the episode to hear all seven principles and learn where to buy Joel's book!

Resources & People Mentioned

• Joel's book: Love Works
• Blackfish

Connect with Joel Manby

• https://joelmanby.com/
• Follow on Facebook
• Follow on Instagram
• Follow on Linkedin

Connect With Rich Daughtridge

• www.Daughtridge.com
• Follow on Facebook
• Follow on Instagram
• Follow on Linkedin
• Follow on Twitter
• Subscribe on YouTube

Never Leave Love Out of Leadership with Joel Manby, Ep #5 

Over a 25-year span, Joel Manby has not only been the CEO of 4 different companies, he also wrote THE book on love as a leadership practice in the workplace. In part one of my interview with Joel, we touch on his roles in the automotive industry, Herschend Family Entertainment, and SeaWorld. You'll want to hear how all of these roles helped shape the ideals he outlines in his book, Love Works.

Joel had a humble upbringing in Battle Creek, Michigan. He attributes athletics with helping to shape his teamwork and leadership skills. His parents' stress over financial issues also helped form his outlook on money and career. He realized that while money was not everything, he wanted to make sure he never suffered the same kind of financial stress in his adult life that his parents had. Listen in to find out how his early life led to his amazing career and ultimately to the writing of his book!

Highlights from this episode

• Joel's life purpose. [3:37]
• One of the most important lessons Joel learned at Harvard. [12:38]
• Why Joel believes in taking managed risks. [13:02]
• Joel's early experiences with balancing family life with work. [17:18]
• How theme park experiences provided the framework for his book. [19:55]

From Saturn to Saab

After realizing that professional baseball was not going to work for him, Joel decided to go to Harvard Business School on a deferment program and received the Sloane Fellowship — a real honor at that time. Joel experienced a pivotal moment when at Harvard that helped him with his professional life. He started at Harvard with a feeling like he didn't belong. He ultimately became the class clown but says his solid thinking, among other things, is what won over time. Gradually, he learned a lesson that will be valuable for many students and young entrepreneurs today. Join us to hear the funny anecdotes Joel shares that tell the story of his business school career!

In exchange for his tuition at Harvard, Joel worked for General Motors after graduation, helping them start Saturn Corporation. From there, he moved to Saab, where at 34, he was the youngest general manager GM had ever hired. Joel was able to help turn the brand around and grow their sales by 65% and help each exclusive Saab dealer increase their sales by a whopping 200%! It's a truly fascinating story you will not want to miss!

From autos to theme parks

As Joel's professional success kept growing, so did his responsibilities within the organization. It took a toll on his home life. He knew something had to change. A series of events led to his departure from Saab to a startup, which he relates may not have been the best decision. This experience taught him to count the cost before you move from one wrong situation to another. Make sure you are going TOWARD something and not just AWAY from the situation you are in.

During this time, Joel was also on the board at Herschend Family Entertainment and was recruited to be Jack Herschend's replacement as CEO. Joel had already been feeling what he described as angst — he felt there had to be a better way to lead. He felt certain there was a way he could mix faith with his job but he had not seen any models for that. While on the board at Herschend, he saw there actually WAS a different type of leadership, one driven by caring — or leading with love, as he calls it now. You'll want to hear the story of this major turning point in his career!

From theme parks to book author

Joel credits the Herschend Family with being the role model he was looking for. He was able to focus the rest of his career on leadership with love. Love, in this case, is not the emotion but the verb. It's our behavior — trust and respect and dignity even in the face of frustration. 

Joel says it is unbelievable the transformation that can happen when you put as much focus on love as on financials. The notion many corporations have is that love is a feeling — that it's too soft and won't work is incorrect. He believes that love as a BEHAVIOR brings out the best in people and in profitability. In fact, when Herschend put the Love Works principles in place, employee engagement levels rose over 45 to 50%! Joel says he has seen both ways of leadership — in fact, he's lived both — and he knows which one works. Listen and learn some of the fascinating stories in Joel's life that led to writing his book!

Resources & People Mentioned

• Joel's book: Love Works

• Herschend Family Entertainment

Connect with Joel Manby

• https://joelmanby.com/
• Follow on Facebook
• Follow on Instagram
• Follow on Linkedin

Connect With Rich Daughtridge

• www.Daughtridge.com
• Follow on Facebook
• Follow on Instagram
• Follow on Linkedin
• Follow on Twitter
• Subscribe on YouTube

Subscribe to Relative Profitability on Apple Podcasts, Spotify

Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

On the last episode of the  Relative Profitability podcast, you got to hear all about how Kyle Houston turned his life around from convicted drug felon to legendary businessman and author. Our interview continues with Kyle this episode — you get to hear about his role as a legendary husband and father and how that role intersects with his roles in the business world.

Kyle met his wife just seven short months after being released from prison. He shares how she is the backbone of his entire story — his "Obi-Wan Kenobi." He also credits his daughters as his number one redeeming quality and relates that while he is "pretty good at all the other stuff," he is a "great daddy." Listen to the show to hear all about the balance Kyle struck between his home and work life and to also hear some great advice he has for all you young entrepreneurs out there!

Highlights from this episode

• The story of how Kyle met his wife. [2:23]
• How failure is an important part on the road to success. [5:15]
• How to deal with negative emotions in business. [6:13]
• How to start finding balance between work and life. [8:27]
• What Kyle's book is all about. [12:12]

Get comfortable with being uncomfortable

Kyle tells young entrepreneurs that everything can't feel comfortable. If you are going to do something big, you have to get really good at being able to handle your mistakes. You will fail way more times than you succeed, but that is just part of the path. 

Kyle said it best: 

"If you don't have the stomach for failure, then you shouldn't have the appetite for success."

Don't throw the baby out with the bath water

Kyle also mentions that many people think there is no value in guilt and shame, but he credits them both — as well as his insecurity — as the primary drivers in his early success. You have negative emotions for a reason. Don't dwell on them or let them bring you down — let them drive you instead! Listen in to hear more of Kyle's own story on how these things propelled him forward!

What is it you really want? Rarely is it more money

Kyle's advice to the person that is running non stop is that there is more to life than hustling. At some point there has to be balance. He says to take a real look at yourself, discover what it is you really want and get real about THAT. He wants you to figure out what enough is for YOU. Kyle thinks there is nothing more powerful in business than the guy with the chip on his shoulder that's ready to run and super hungry, but the caveat is that at some point you have to live your life too. 

This episode is definitely packed with some great advice, but you also want to  hear all about Kyle's bestselling book, his next steps in the business world, and what he deeply wishes everyone to find in this life!

 Resources & People Mentioned

• Kyle's Book: Patchwork Junkie

Connect with Guest Name

• Kyle Houston
• Connect with Kyle on Facebook
• Connect with Kyle on Instagram
• Connect with Kyle on Twitter

Connect With Rich Daughtridge

• www.Daughtridge.com 
• Follow on Facebook
• Follow on Instagram
• Follow on Linkedin
• Follow on Twitter
• Subscribe on YouTube

Subscribe to Relative Profitability on Apple Podcasts, Spotify

Audio Production and Show notes byPODCAST FAST TRACKhttps://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Many entrepreneurs struggle to find that balance between work and home life. Businessman and author Kyle Houston not only found that balance, but overcame incredibly bleak odds to not only be an extremely successful businessman, but also an incredible husband and father. Join us today for part one of a true rags to riches story!

Kyle grew up in a small Missouri town of about 4600 people with small-town values, where everyone knew you — the good and the bad. He is a self-described "big fish in a small pond", and attributes some of his later success to the self-confidence this status and his small-town values instilled in him. 

Highlights from this episode

• Kyle's early life. [3:39]
• The first turning point in Kyle's life. [5:22]
• Kyle's first successful business venture and downward spiral into addiction. [6:42]
• How Kyle came to his purpose while in prison. [11:30]
• How Kyle faced his fears and turned his life around after prison.[17:50]

Where things started to turn

Kyle played varsity football throughout his high-school career. He was a key player and never came out of the game. Kyle went into his senior year fully expecting college scouts to be checking him out. Instead, he got mono. This was a devastating blow for Kyle — a complete shift from what he thought his senior year would look like. What followed were several years of struggle to find his place and his ultimate discovery that he had a real propensity for business. 

At 24, Kyle built a business from scratch and was extremely successful — until methamphetamines changed the course of his life yet again. Listen to learn how Kyle went from the top of his game to a junkie facing life in prison and back to the top again!

How 23 hours a day led to 3 truths

Kyle found himself facing life in prison, spending 23 hours a day alone in a cell. He had burned every bridge — even his mother quit talking to him — and only had himself and God. He decided he was going to figure out purpose, which "filled the hole (he) was shoveling meth into with God-shaped stuff", and ultimately led to his recovery. Eventually, his purpose became clear and he came to know three baseline truths. Tune in to learn the truths that led to Kyle's new purpose!

Kyle's road to #legendary

Kyle left prison after seven years — a man with no college degree, no network and no real knowledge of how much technology had changed. At this point, he was scared to have interaction with "normal" people – those who had never been incarcerated. He had many fears, but his ability to unflinchingly face that fear and his bulletproof belief that he could work through his circumstances helped him go from scared convict to VP of a $2 billion publicly-traded company in 10 years. Keep listening to find out how he faced his fear and achieved all of his goals!

Resources & People Mentioned

• Kyle's Book: Patchwork Junkie

Connect with Guest Name

• Kyle Houston
• Connect with Kyle on Facebook
• Connect with Kyle on Instagram
• Connect with Kyle on Twitter

Connect With Rich Daughtridge

• www.Daughtridge.com
• Follow on Facebook
• Follow on Instagram
• Follow on Linkedin
• Follow on Twitter
• Subscribe on YouTube

Subscribe to Relative Profitability on Apple Podcasts, Spotify

Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Life is about more than financial and business success. Said another way, the currency of life is not only measured by a strong Profit & Loss sheet, but it's also found in the healthy relationships that begin at home. That's because deep contentment doesn't come from business success alone, it comes from healthy relationships that add meaning to your life and contribute to the health and success of those you share a relationship with.

So the question is, "How do you integrate the success and failure of business and entrepreneurship with the important relationships in your life?"

This episode, a recorded conversation with my sister Alyson and my brother Ryan, represents the tip of the iceberg relating to that question. But it's a GREAT iceberg to start chipping away at. You'll find their insight — as entrepreneurs and family members of entrepreneurs — so helpful. I encourage you to listen and put to practice what you learn.

Highlights from this episode

• Why I'm doing a round-table conversation with my siblings [1:18]
• How childhood set us up for entrepreneurship and small business ownership [4:36]
• Lessons Ryan learned to keep the business in the black while leading his family [9:44]
• How to switch gears to be all-in at home instead of consumed with business [14:50]
• A terrible trap: Forgetting the dreams of your spouse [20:24]
• We must learn to believe, for ourselves and our families [26:27]
• Effective communication is a key for success in business and relationships [31:00]
• Final advice and lessons learned [33:04] 

Is working harder the real answer to your business problems?

Running a small business or side hustle can be a grind. It's not uncommon for the midnight oil to be burning day after day after day just to keep things afloat. But is that the right solution for the problems you face in your business? Sure, there is no substitute for smart, strategic action on a business level. But many times the strength needed to stick it out doesn't come from putting your nose to the grindstone.

During this conversation, Ryan points out that many times when he's stressed and feeling the pressure of a business crisis or problem, the thing he needs is not more time at work. He needs the reset and decompression that comes from spending time with his family. That's where he's reminded why he's putting in the hard work. That's where he connects with his deeper purpose and motivation. Could that be your answer, too? Listen to hear it straight from Ryan's lips and to get some ideas for how you could move to a healthier place in this area.

Which is more important, emotional presence or physical presence?

The life of an entrepreneur comes with the responsibility to work hard and hustle. It's part of the package. That means there are many times when you're not able to be physically present with your family for the sake of your business's survival. For that reason, it's all the more important that when you are at home, you're truly there. Alyson refers to it as "emotional presence," the ability to connect, plug-in, and invest in the meaningful relationships waiting for you at home.

Yes, you're tired and yes, you need time to unwind. But it may have to happen in smaller increments than you desire so that the relationships that matter so much to you are not starved of the attention that only you can provide. It's part of the cost of being an entrepreneur, just as much as the hard work and hustle. Listen to hear more of how Alyson and her husband Christopher constantly work to keep this balance.

Do you often remember your spouse's dreams as well as yours?

Every entrepreneur has a dream. It's what drives them to create and iterate the way they do. In the flurry of activity surrounding the implementation of that dream, you can experience casualties that you can not afford. What are they?

The dreams of your spouse.

Near the end of this conversation, Ryan and Alyson and I dig into the importance of knowing and facilitating your spouse's dreams, no matter how much energy and focus your entrepreneurial pursuits require of you. This is a key element to maintaining healthy, lasting relationships that are profitable for you as a family. Don't miss this part of the conversation.

Resources & People Mentioned

• Premier Spine and Sports Medicine - where Alyson's husband Christopher practices
• Free Range Cafe - where Ryan's wife, Rory serves her community amazing food 
• Bustin Boards - Ryan's skateboard company

Connect with my guests

Ryan Daughtridge on Twitter: @bustinRY and on Instagram: @RyanDaughtridge 

Alyson Clark on Instagram: @AlysonDClark 

Connect With Rich Daughtridge

• www.Daughtridge.com 
• Follow on Facebook
• Follow on Instagram
• Follow on Linkedin
• Follow on Twitter
• Subscribe on YouTube

Subscribe to Relative Profitability on Apple Podcasts, Spotify

Audio Production and Show notes byPODCAST FAST TRACKhttps://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Few people these days can claim to have found BOTH personal contentment and professional success. Sadly, they seem to be opposites on a spectrum where both cannot be experienced at the same time. It sounds like a panacea, but we all want it just the same. My guest on this episode has walked down both ends of that continuum. He's come through some hard situations that would break many people. But through it all, he's found a way to set his compass daily and fuel a life that matters.

Danny Farrar is the CEO of Soldier Fit, a fitness program birthed out of his experiences in life and as a member of the U.S. military. It focuses on providing a family atmosphere where each "troop" helps push every member to reach his or her personal goals. In this conversation, you'll hear Danny describe the difficult circumstances of his early life, how the military became his first turning-point, and how a terrible transition into civilian life opened the door to the opportunity that became Soldier Fit. Pay close attention to Danny's advice about creating your own "Daily Defense" routine. It's the type of thing I want these episodes to reveal, so take good notes and put his advice to work.

Highlights from this episode

• Adoption, molestation, and struggling through high school [2:49]
• Military service and a poor transition into civilian life [3:30]
• Beginning the Soldier Fit training program [6:01]
• Using adversity to clarify your purpose and how you will get there [8:50]
• Balancing loyalty to your team with the harsh reality of your P&L [11:56]
• Advice for those grinding it out daily regarding maintenance of personal priorities [14:06]
• Three lessons from a recent Facebook post Danny authored [20:57]

An inspiring example of why you can't let your history shape your future

We all experience difficult circumstances in life. There's no getting around that fact. But some people seem to push through them and overcome in spite of the setback. Danny is one of those people. He was an adopted child who struggled to find himself. Pile on top of that the fact that he was molested by family members, became a chronic over-eater and struggled academically in high school, and you can see that he was on a very destructive path that many of us would struggle to change.

But that was just the beginning of his struggles. He joined the military and learned a number of valuable skills, but transitioned out of the military poorly. He was evicted, wound up homeless, and attempted suicide. After being locked up in the psych ward for treatment, he developed a deep desire to change his life. 

Soldier Fit is one of the outgrowths of that struggle. But more importantly for this podcast are the lessons Danny learned regarding healthy relationships and how to maintain happiness in spite of circumstances.

There are three types of people: quitters, campers, and climbers

Danny tells the story of how he learned that he had a choice in life, a choice to quit, to settle for less than he was capable of, or to keep climbing to become a better version of himself. He characterizes these choices as becoming a quitter, a camper, or a climber. The interesting thing though is that he tells the story in the context of a failed relationship. His first marriage ended in divorce and Danny feels that the lack of similar ambition is what led to its demise — and in his mind, there was nobody to blame for that incongruence but himself.

Will you be a quitter, a camper, or a climber? Danny's story can help you see how each of them manifest themselves and his example of becoming a climber can help you choose a better path for yourself. Listen and let Danny's story encourage you to become more, so that you can build relationships that matter. 

Your "Daily Defense" is vital for your health as an entrepreneur 

One of the most intriguing things to me is that every entrepreneur who is successful in both life and business does so intentionally. It NEVER happens by accident. I want to hear those stories and Danny shares a great one on this episode.

He says that every entrepreneur — or every person for that matter — needs to develop what he calls a "Daily Defense." It's an intentional focus on making deposits into four key areas of life. Those four areas are Relational Health, Financial Health, Mental Health, and Physical Health. He points out that your focus on these four areas should be ongoing but flexible. It's not required that you invest the same amount of attention in each one every day, but that something is done for each, every day. He says, "If you allocate to those every day, you'll find that it works out."

Listen to hear more ways Danny has implemented this mindset into his daily life and use it as fuel to build a Daily Defense of your own that works for you.

Connect with Danny Farrar

• Soldier Fit - where Danny leads as CEO
• The Reboot Challenge from Soldier Fit

Connect With Rich Daughtridge

• https://WareHouseCinemas.com 
• https://HighRockStudios.com
• Follow on Facebook
• Follow on Instagram
• Follow on Linkedin
• Follow on Twitter
• Subscribe on YouTube

Subscribe to Relative Profitability on Apple Podcasts, Spotify

Audio Production and Show notes byPODCAST FAST TRACKhttps://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Are you dissatisfied with where your entrepreneurial or business path is taking you? Do you often hear the quiet voice of your own soul saying, "Isn't there more than this?" If so, you may be the kind of person who I've been wanting to connect with.

My name is Rich Daughtridge. I've been an entrepreneur for a long time and grew up in a home where my parents were always involved in some sort of side-hustle. I've learned from both pain and success that life is too short to waste it chasing things that don't matter. For a long time I've been wanting to explore that truth with the help of other, smart, successful entrepreneurs and this podcast — Relative Profitability — is the realization of that desire. Welcome! 

Highlights from this episode

• The reasons behind this podcast - What really matters at the end of the road? [0:57]
• Lessons growing up, university, and playing professional soccer [2:01]

Connect With Rich Daughtridge

• www.Daughtridge.com 
• Follow on Facebook
• Follow on Instagram
• Follow on Linkedin
• Follow on Twitter
• Subscribe on YouTube

Audio Production and Show notes byPODCAST FAST TRACKhttps://www.podcastfasttrack.com