Speed Mentorship

Kelly Preston is the owner and CEO of Captial Steel and Wire. She has an extremely unique background. She is self-taught, has overcome some of life’s most difficult challenges, and has come out on the other side even stronger. Kelly is also involved in several non-profits. One closer to her heart is Ele’s Place, where she currently serves as a member of its statewide governing board.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Embrace Continuous Learning

Be prepared to step out of your comfort zone and continuously seek new knowledge and skills. Be open to making mistakes and learning from them, as this is crucial for your personal and professional development. Self-education, resilience, and adaptability are key traits for overcoming obstacles and achieving success in any field.

Foster Trust and Honesty

Building a culture of trust and honesty is essential. Be transparent about challenges, openly communicate with your team members, and foster an environment where people feel safe to express themselves and take risks. By demonstrating vulnerability and humility, you can inspire confidence and loyalty in your team, which is crucial for navigating difficult times and sustaining long-term success.

Prioritize Emotional Intelligence and Empathy

Be open to people’s stories and feelings, understanding that everyone has personal challenges that affect their professional lives. By being empathetic and actively listening to your team members, you can create a supportive and inclusive work environment. This not only improves individual well-being but also enhances overall team performance and cohesion. Emotional intelligence allows you to connect with your team on a deeper level, making it easier to navigate difficult times and achieve long-term success.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• In what ways can you integrate vulnerability and honesty into your leadership or personal relationships?
• How can you enhance your emotional intelligence to create a more supportive environment for yourself and those around you?
• Reflect on times you've faced adversity. How did you persevere and maintain focus on your goals?

OVERVIEW:

• 1:08 | Getting to know Bill Trout
• 5:47 | What are some of the most challenging things trying to help come alongside some of your outreach programs?
• 7:12 | Why is what you're doing in these areas so necessary?
• 8:46 | What is the entrepreneurship program you've developed?
• 12:43 | What is your favorite part of doing this outreach work?
• 14:53 | What kind of advice do you have for people who are looking to make an impact on people?
• 17:04 | Where do you see some of these programs going in the future?
• 19:21 | What life principles have served you well?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Reflecting on the "Start Today" philosophy, discuss a time when you hesitated to take action on something important. What held you back, and what could you have done differently to overcome that hesitation?
2. Considering building sustainable solutions, how can we apply this principle to our projects or initiatives? Share examples of initiatives you've been involved in or ideas you have for creating a lasting impact in your community or organization
3. In your experience, how have relationships with others influenced your ability to make a difference? Discuss when collaboration or networking played a significant role in achieving a shared goal. What lessons did you learn from that experience?

HIGHLIGHTS:
1:11 | Background

2:39 | Sweetwater's Cultural Principles

5:08 | What does your typical day look like?

6:12 | What challenges are you facing with hiring?

9:01 | How do you maintain a healthy viewpoint on criticism

15:59 | Are you more introverted or extroverted?

17:37 | How do you manage your ego?

19:51 | What kind of mantras do you follow?

22:14 | What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced in your career?

25:16 | What are some of the top leadership issues you see?

26:53 | How do you help develop grit and resiliency?

29:02 | What kind of advice do you have for people who need to get out of their heads?

30:33 | What kind of advice do you give people trying to advance into leadership positions?

33:26 | How do you manage work-life balance?

37:12 | What is your vision for the music industry over the next decade?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Focus on Doing the Right Thing

The principle of doing the right thing applies to how they treat customers, employees, and vendors. It’s about maintaining integrity in all interactions, ensuring ethical practices are followed, and building partnerships rather than adversarial ones.

Handle Criticism and Move On

It’s easy to want everyone to like you, but that’s unrealistic. You must have thick skin, process feedback, and understand you can’t make everyone happy. You have to actively seek and respond to feedback to keep learning and growing.

Leadership Isn't Automatic
Aspiring leaders have to earn their stripes by putting in extra effort, being team players, and focusing on the greater good rather than personal gain. Leadership roles are not based on tenure alone.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What is your "why" for wanting to be a leader? What is your motivation for seeking leadership roles?
2. How do you balance work in your own life? Are there specific strategies or non-negotiables that are effective for you to maintain a sense of balance, especially during busy or challenging times?
3. How do you see ethical considerations influencing decision-making in leadership roles, and what challenges might arise in balancing ethical practices with business objectives?

EPISODE DETAILS:
Andrew Liu is a garage door industry veteran with years of experience in leadership. His episode contains his thoughts on where the garage door industry is headed and some insights into biohacking.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• 1:00  | Introduction
• 5:22 | What made you want to go into the family business?
• 6:13 | What are some of the unique value propositions of Guardian?
• 7:49 | What is your current role with Guardian?
• 8:46 | What are the top challenges for Guardian right now?
• 10:47 | What does a typical day look like for you?
• 13:06 | What are a few interesting biohacks you've been applying?
• 17:00 | What are some of the successful habits you do regularly?
• 19:58 | How many hours of sleep do you get?
• 20:10 | How many meetings a day do you average?
• 21:21 | What drives you to be successful?
• 23:24 | What are some of your life principles?
• 25:34 | What is your view on criticism?
• 27:25 | How do you handle stress?
• 29:27 | Are you more of an introvert or extrovert?
• 31:28 | What are some of your mantras?
• 34:00 | What advice do you have for a younger you?
• 36:05 | What are your visions and thoughts on where the garage door industry will go in the next 5-10 years?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Try Biohacking for Personal Development

For holistic self-improvement and innovative personal development, experiment with techniques like intermittent fasting, optimizing meal order for sustained energy, and taking cold showers to stimulate mitochondria and promote youthfulness.

Emphasis on Integrity and Gratitude

Practicing gratitude and zooming out to gain perspective on life challenges is a form of stress management.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. How can you improve your diverse focus for personal growth?
2. What is my approach to overcoming challenges and stress?
3. Am I open to challenging my perspectives and habits?

HIGHLIGHTS:

• 1:00 | Background of Pat Mcalear
• 5:49 | When did you become President of SSC?
• 8:48 | SSC History
• 10:02 | What are some of your greatest accomplishments?
• 11:30 | Clarence Veigel + Competition
• 20:26 | If you had stayed at the company for another 10 years, what would you have done next?
• 22:51 | What is the hardest part of being a CEO?
• 25:13 | What are your biggest accomplishments and challenges?
• 26:52 | What financial challenges did you face?
• 29:03 | What are some of your greatest memories?
• 30:08 | What are some of your most successful habits
• 33:40 | How many hours of sleep did you get?
• 35:28 | What are some of the life principles you live by?
• 37:21 | Do you have any regrets?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Start with a young kid; bring 'em along
You learn as a kid through your family's important habits. You have to be a self-starter and self-disciplined. That starts with how your parents bring you up.

It's not just showing up for your job.
Showing up is so many other things. If you tell somebody you're going o do something, do it. People are impressed by what you do, not what you say you will do.

Time is behind you
The time you have in front of you could be over tomorrow. Treat everyone fairly. Try to control your prejudices, whatever the are. You misjudge people that way.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• How have you 'shown up' for your job recently?
• If your time was up tomorrow, what would be your regrets? How can you change those regrets?

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• 0:31 | About Sean Savage
• 2:30 | What are some key things that contribute to your success?
• 4:50 | How do you look at and cope with your weaknesses?
• 6:52 | How do you cope with anxiety and stress?
• 9:21 | What are some of your mantras or sayings
• 12:29 | What advice do you have for the next generation?
• 15:00 | What are some of the challenges you are faced in your life?
• 22:34 | What are some tips and tricks for creating an engaging, flourishing culture?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Tackle Situations Quickly

Problems are inevitable, and taking those on as they come up is important. It allows you to solve the problem quickly and eliminate some of the ongoing stress of a problem becoming bigger. 

The Importance of White Space

It’s important in the work of leadership that you just think. People spend so much time doing; they don’t spend time thinking about the bigger things that need to happen. 

Set the World on Fire Every Day

We’re not here forever. Get up daily and put in maximum effort to improve the world. 

It Comes From the Top

Culture comes from who they hire, how they train, and what they share with their team that goes down to the organization. Plus, setting the mission and the vision of the company. 

Start Saving Early 

Having the discipline of savings, everything else financially will go smoothly. Setting up a savings account and getting into the habit of finance starts at a young age. The earlier you start understanding how to save money, the better you’ll be in the long run.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What situation or problems are causing your stress? How can you solve them today to help eliminate the stress? 
2. How are you setting the world on fire? How would you like to set the world on fire? 
3.  How can you spend more time thinking about the bigger picture?

HIGHLIGHTS:
0:57 | Randy Oostra Background
3:34 | What does your day-to-day look like?
4:51 | What are some of your top habits?
6:04 | What are some of your weaknesses?

7:36 | How do you manage to say 'yes' to a lot of things?
9:17 | How do you manage stress?

10:57 | How do you overcome stress?

12:27 | Would you say you're more of an introvert or an extrovert?

14:55 | What kind of advice do you have for the next generation?

16:38 | How do you create a successful culture at an organization?

21:25 | How do you manage a work-life balance?

24:40 | What are your top mantras?

26:48 | Where will the healthcare system go in the next 10 years?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
We're all incomplete. We'll all die an incomplete leader

It’s an idea that we wake up every day and are still incomplete. We have got to keep working on new things and getting better.

Work is that...work
Work is important, but it’s not ultimately important in your life. Family is important. For many, faith is important. You can’t get time back, so make sure you enjoy life.

Failure is hard
You have to take the view that things happen for a reason. Maybe they happened because something better is yet to come. We’re all humans, and you have to keep pushing forward, knowing it will work out in the end.

Don't underestimate the power of emotional intelligence
Spend time observing people and understanding people. Strong EQ is a premier leadership principle, and it’s often developed outside of work.

Discussion Questions:

• What skills can you continue to develop to be a more complete leader?
• What is your life purpose? 

With five terms as sheriff, Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn is the longest-serving sheriff in Wood County, Ohio. He offers a unique leadership perspective from nearly twenty years of public service. 

HIGHLIGHTS:

• 0:38 | Background of Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn
• 2:43 | What does a typical day look like for you?
• 4:27 | What do you think are your most successful habits?
• 5:05 | What stresses you out and how do you manage stress?
• 6:35 | How do you address those situations when you see someone making a mistake?
• 7:40 | How do you manage your ego?
• 9:59 | Do you have any key mantras that you use routinely?
• 12:23 | What are some of your biggest challenges? How did you overcome them?
• 14:59 | You have top performers and low performers? How do you manage those low performers?
• 18:29 | What tips do you have about curating a positive culture?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Surround yourself with people who are honest

It’s a humbling experience to hear the things that you’re doing wrong from people you respect.

Try peer coaching

Sometimes if the leader goes in and tries to help and coach performers, it can be intimidating. Sometimes having peers coach low performers can allow for better dialogue and improvements.

Don’t take culture for granted

Culture is something you have to nurture and curate it. You have to be intentional about making your culture matter. 

Trust the power of now

Always take time to enjoy the now. So many times our brain is focused on the future or the past, but we need to focus and make the best of the present.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Which people in your life give you honest feedback?
2. How have your curated a positive culture lately? 
3. Is there something in the present you missed recently? How can you become more focused on the power of now? 

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Introduction
• 3:50 | What is your definition of a successful organization?
• 4:39 | Why does education matter?
• 9:10 | From an organization, what are some of the biggest challenges you've faced? How did you overcome those?
• 11:38 | How do you go about changing a bad culture? How do you take a decent culture to the next level?
• 16:39 | For your leaders today, what are some of the biggest pitfalls they experience? What suggestions do you have?
• 18:55 | What does a top performer look like in your organization?
• 21:34 | What type of advice do you have for the next generation?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
The biggest challenge of any organization is culture

When all else fails, culture is the defining factor in how you move forward. Being able to shape and grow that culture is one of the most challenging tasks.
 
It’s really hard to measure heart

If someone has a good feeling and a good impression then they are more likely to feel good about the organization as a whole.

Sometimes we get bog downed

We don’t spend time looking around to look at best practices or continued learning. There may be other ideas or action items that we can borrow from other organizations to make us better.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Where are you getting 'bogged' down? How can you expand your ideas or actions to help your organization grow?
2. What have you done lately to leave a good impression or make other feel good about your organization?

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• 1:06  | Background of Doug Lange2:45 | What does your day-to-day look like?
• 4:07 | How would you describe the culture of the workforce?
• 5:56 | What habits do you do routinely that have made you successful?
• 9:51 | Throughout your career? how many weeks do you think you average?
• 13:56 | What are life principles that you've lived by in your career?
• 17:51 | Are you more of an introvert or an extrovert?
• 8:15 | What leadership do you have for someone that is more extroverted?
• 19:53 | What is your viewpoint on criticism?
• 22:34 | How do you help create a culture where people will have difficult conversations?
• 24:01 | How can we get better at receiving criticism?
• 26:46 | How do you manage and cope with stress?
• 29:22 | Any final thoughts?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Culture is either your biggest asset or your biggest problem
We look to hire a very specific type of person - who wants to be engaged, and wants to be a part. People have to feel valued and what they do matters. They have to fit into our culture

Good ideas have to last over time
The actions or ideas that you implement need to stand the test of time. The idea can’t just be a moment in time when it is right

Take Your Vacation
When you take time away, you're more balanced and ready to perform at a high level

Don't put off what you could do today
The most difficult decision or conversation on your mind is one you should have today. Don't put it off, sit down and have the discussion

Procrastination is a disease
If you don't fix the things in your life, they pile up. You have to attack the things that are most stressful

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. In what areas could you give your team more autonomy over their jobs?
2. On your team, who is introverted or extroverted? How can you help them recharge and re-energize?
3. What difficult decisions or conversations are you putting off?

ABOUT DOUG LANGE:
Doug Lange started his tenancy at North Star BlueScope in 1998 as the controller and then VP of Finance. Prior to North Star, Doug worked for Cargill in several finance related roles. In 2008, Doug left North Star to become CFP of BSL’s building business and eventually spent 2 years in China in that role. He returned to North Star in 2019 for the expansion project known as Project Aristotle.

Doug began his role as President of North Star BlueScope Steel on June 1, 2020