By Bruce Holoubek
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A particular culture comes with a family-owned business that’s difficult to maintain as the company grows. Today we learn how my guest, Angela Santiago, CEO and co-founder of The Little Potato Company, preserved the family-owned culture of her growing business. She equates planning for culture and values with planning for a budget or business strategy.
Angela and her father founded The Little Potato Company in 1996 on a 1-acre plot. The company now has over 400 employees, star listings in the U.S. and Canada, and has breeding programs on three continents. Angela is a wife and mother of 4. She has earned many awards during her career, such as Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young, Top 40 under 40 in Canada, and Alberta’s Woman Entrepreneur of the Year. Angela is a delight to speak with, down-to-earth, insightful, and knowledgeable. Listen in to learn how you can apply the growth principles Angela has shared with us.
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What if you could have your biggest organizational issues assessed and addressed, with guaranteed results? That’s the promise of Contracted Leadership. We at Contracted Leadership are more than consultants. We’re contractors who work side-by-side with organizations and we aren’t afraid to get our hands dirty. That level of commitment is required of anyone representing us. Each subcontractor has 15-20+ years of experience in various industries, including substantial leadership roles. They’re carefully vetted and trained to ensure that they’ll represent the purpose of Contracted Leadership.
In this episode, you’ll hear more about the ins and outs of Contracted Leadership. This time we’re doing something new. Rather than interviewing someone or speaking on a topic, I’m handing over the wheel to Carey Green, the founder of Podcast Fast Track. This time, Carey is interviewing me! Carey is one of the best interviewers ever. He and his team are responsible for turning good recordings into great podcast episodes. Carey and I discuss the reason Contracted Leadership exists and the story behind how it came to be. Listen in on this opportunity to learn about the heart of Contracted Leadership.
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Creation is the key to learning. When we can apply what we learn, we make knowledge our own. My guest takes that belief to new levels. Dan White is the founder and CEO of Filament Games where their ultimate goal is to inspire people to learn more on their own. I knew I needed to speak with Dan White after watching his video about how to embrace failure. In the video, Dan shares his belief that failure should be expected and celebrated rather than avoided. I know you’ll be inspired by his passion for effective learning.
Outline of This EpisodeSPONSOR: eWebinar – “Automated webinar” solutions are out there. Sadly, they’re little more than videos playing alongside some fake attendees. They achieve their basic purpose and provide information, but let’s face it... they’re one-sided and boring. We’ve made them fun and engaging. Check out https://www.ewebinar.com/ for all the details!
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Ambition, courage, and curiosity are character traits you’ll find in many founders and many innovators across disciplines. I immediately saw all three of those traits in my guest on this episode, Mary Dixon. Mary is a founder in the pharmaceutical and medical device industry, working to improve the lives of human beings through research and development that empower the person’s greatest health.
Her history has led her to the development of software that empowers medical providers and patients as well. The focus is to do this through the use of data to discover the deeper unmet needs of everyone in the scenario. I invite you to listen. You’ll be inspired by Mary’s competence and insight and how she keeps her focus on the individuals involved in the complex process of healthcare solutions.
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After starting his accounting firm serving the for-profit world, Nick Curran had an “accidental” conversation that led him down the path his business was to follow for the foreseeable future — providing accounting services exclusively to non-profit organizations.
As CEO of Numbers 4 Non-Profits, Nick leads a substantial team of accountants, consultants, assistants, and administrative professionals to, in his words, “Do the simple things right.” In this conversation, you’ll hear Nick describe why non-profit organizations tend to be more stable than their for-profit counterparts, the typical bumps in the road non-profits face, and why clear and quick communication is always the best course of action, no matter the issue.
Outline of This EpisodeSPONSOR: First Business Bank – Take banking to the next level. Fuel business growth. Improve personal wealth gains. Elevate your banking expectations with a financial partner that delivers comprehensive business banking services – built on experience. Find out more at https://firstbusiness.bank/
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Growing up in a family-owned general contracting business, Sam Daniels worked in the field, learned back-office stuff, and then went to school to learn more of the business skills needed to be a significant part of the family business going forward. His journey into leadership and the lessons he’s had to learn — and how he’s learned them — provide great food for thought for those in the role of leadership. Sam speaks with host, Bruce Holoubek about sustaining the family feel of the business over time, what that looks like practically when it comes to employee benefits and communication, and more. Join us for this conversation.
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We all learn, in our own particular ways, that life is no walk in the park. Crisis, hardship, loss, and myriad other circumstances chip away at youthful optimism and threaten to undo us. But it’s our response to these things that largely determines whether we will be resilient and strong, or cowering and soft. As a top decision-maker in your organization, you know this. It’s one of the many things that has set you apart as a leader.
My guest on this episode has a great deal to say about the subject. He’s experienced plenty of struggle in his life and he believes that the more struggle you have in life, the more opportunity you have for becoming strong. John Schneider has learned that failure is not something to be feared, it’s something to be learned from. His story illustrates how resilience, determination, and a desire to add value to the lives of others can create a kind of success that few of us even know is possible. As the leader of four companies, he passes those values on to his teams and works every day to infuse them into his growing family. Join us for this challenging and insightful conversation.
The more struggle you have, the stronger you becomeJohn’s first steps into business ownership came through an opportunity to flip houses. He ran a lean operation and had no interest in simply slapping paint on a less-than-quality structure and flipping it for a profit. To him, there had to be tangible improvements to the property that resulted in value for the purchaser, which only then translated into value for him. In an effort to increase his margins, he started an ancillary business, then another, then another. And with each new business came new challenges and struggles.
But there’s something in John’s entrepreneurial DNA that doesn’t allow him to shy away from those struggles. He has learned that’s a good thing. He says that the more struggle you have, the stronger you become — or at least you have a greater opportunity to become stronger. So he often coaches others to step into the struggles rather than running away from them. It’s in that step that you find more strength than you knew you had. How has this proven true in your leadership journey? Are there ways you can use the struggle to your advantage and that of your teams?
Once you’ve eaten the onion, everything else is easierOne of the colorful entrepreneurial endeavors in John’s past was a short season he was trying to promote concerts in his area. He convinced some partners to come alongside him to fund a music festival of sorts and he took care of booking the bands, securing the venue, and dealing with vendors. One of the things outside his control was the weather, and it didn’t cooperate with all his best-laid plans. The losses were catastrophic.
John told me about the experience of making phone calls to the people who had invested in the event in various ways. Those were some of the hardest conversations he’s ever had to have, but he says they taught him lessons he didn’t know he needed at the time. One of those was that it’s always easier to do the things you dread or find difficult, first. Getting past your fears and experiencing the light at the end of that dark tunnel demonstrates that things are often not as bad as they seem and that you will get through it. In his words, once you’ve eaten your onion, everything else is easier.
Failure is, by far, the best teacher you haveJohn also explains that the fear of failure many of us live with is actually one of the most irrational fears we could have. The truth is that failure is one of the only ways we learn. It provides a very clear perspective on how we perform and the results of that performance. In failure, our weaknesses become evident, which provides a unique opportunity to identify them and make plans to overcome them.
John believes that failure is, by far, is the best teacher you have — and I wonder, how have you, as a top decision-maker and leader, discovered this to be true? Or do you need to take the lessons from John’s experience as a reminder of that fact? Might I encourage you, don’t miss out on the lessons failure has to offer you by playing it safe. Expect failure, plan on it, and step into situations where it’s a possibility. Then pay close attention when it arrives. You’ll learn lessons during those times that are not available to you anyplace else.
3 pieces of advice for anyone considering the entrepreneurial lifeHaving started or led so many businesses, I thought it would be super helpful for John to provide his perspective to those who are considering an entrepreneurial path. He was not shy about sharing the three most important pieces of advice he’s learned. I’m sure you will resonate with these.
I couldn’t agree with John’s insights on this point more strongly. You likely have insights about each of them as well. I encourage you to listen to his explanation of each so that you can understand how they fit together and provide a wise and stable launchpad for any entrepreneurial endeavor. You may find that his insights provide much-needed help on your journey as a leader.
Outline of This EpisodeSPONSOR: First Business Bank - Take banking to the next level. Fuel business growth. Improve personal wealth gains. Elevate your banking expectations with a financial partner that delivers comprehensive business banking services - built on experience. Find out more at https://firstbusiness.bank/
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When you hear about someone needing to unplug, you likely picture someone frazzled and on the edge of a burn-out. We can all relate to similar feelings of overwhelm; it seems almost inevitable. However, that outcome could have been different if the person had proactively taken the time to refresh before getting to that point.
Jim McNulty, Sr. Vice President of Business Banking, doesn’t only understand the previous truth, he’s done something about it. During this conversation, we discuss his experience taking a ten-week sabbatical and his journey to that decision.
As I spoke with Jim, I came to understand his heart for people. Throughout our discussion, he kept coming back to that. His hiring process, the way he operates, and his relationships teach us a lot about creating a culture that develops others.
We discussed the impact that COVID-19 had on Oak Bank and how they pushed through the obstacles presented by the pandemic to be able to say, “Yes” to each person in need. In a matter of weeks, he had to turn his bank into a PPP loan processing station. Every individual who called needing help was met with kindness and understanding. Jim attributes much of this understanding to lessons he learned during his sabbatical. Listen to learn more from Jim’s wise perspective about taking time to refresh.
How does unplugging benefit the workplace?There were many benefits that came from Jim’s sabbatical, not just for him but for his family and workplace team. Jim and his family grew closer during his time off and he learned to appreciate the benefits of unplugging. Meanwhile, his company benefited due to the training provided and trust granted in preparation for Jim being gone. His employees flourished with having greater responsibility and future leadership potential was developed.
It’s easy to think that we are indispensable, that the work we do is too important for us to take time off, that no one can do our job as well as we can. The reality is that our businesses should be able to run without us. Not permanently, of course, but certainly for a time. Preparing for someone to unplug is like an emergency drill. We can prepare for the inevitable by preparing for the expected.
What does it mean to unplug?Many of us think we need to be constantly available and engaged in the workplace. We wouldn’t even consider taking a break. Staying busy and living in an exhausted state has become the norm for our culture. In previous episodes, I’ve discussed the necessity of work/life synchrony. That being said, unplugging also provides an opportunity for great revelations and positive shifts. It allows us to gain a new perspective on every relationship in life.
Unplugging is different for each individual. Most commonly it means separating yourself from work. However, it could also mean temporarily backing away from a situation or event. Regardless of the reason, great benefit can be attained by stepping away and resetting, and the benefits will continue for years to come in both our professional and personal lives.
Why should you consider unplugging?Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, “We would do well to slow down a little, focus on the significant, and truly see the things that matter most.” What does that look like? It’s stepping away from the busyness of life to give yourself the time to reset. How long you should unplug is entirely dependent on how long it takes to accomplish your intended purpose. If you’re willing to unplug, you’ll find that you’ll be better prepared to have meaningful discussions with others and that your relationships will grow. These are things Jim has found to be true after he unplugged with his sabbatical.
What do you think of when you hear the word unplug? Is it something you’ve considered for yourself or your employees? Find out how learning to unplug will make you a better leader with a stronger team.
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The building of any organization requires an inordinate amount of enthusiasm for what you’re building and why you’re doing it, certainly more than the average person possesses. That’s why good leadership is at such a premium — it’s unusual for that kind of passion to exist in an individual, much less to exist in a way that is sustainable over the long haul.
Tim O’Brien is a leader who oozes passion for what he’s doing and it’s all rooted in the realization that he has the opportunity every day to help others live a better life. His role as founder of The Healthy Place and other nutrition and health-related companies is the natural result of his pursuit of that desire. In this conversation, we discuss how Tim became interested in the world of natural health, how he creates a culture within his companies that focuses on helping the customer first (even if that doesn’t result in a sale), how he's learned to activate and empower the unique abilities of his team members, and much more. We could have talked for hours, so I invite you to join me for another captivating conversation.
Leaders must ensure that organizational culture serves customersOrganizations that matter function according to some sort of mission, a reason the organization exists. Typically, that mission benefits people, who are its customers or recipients. It’s the leader who is responsible to ensure that the people their organization serves remain the front and center focus of the organization’s efforts.
Tim O’Brien keeps that focus in view for his teams by repeating a simple phrase that is introduced during the three-month training all team members receive. What is the statement?
“Souls before sales.”
It’s Tim’s way of reminding himself and his team members that the help they provide to their customers has no strings attached. Sometimes that means they don’t sell anything. Other times, it may mean a sale happens. Either way, the person is being served in a way that truly benefits them, and that is what matters.
Leaders must also ensure that team members can serve customers with integrityOn the “team” side of things Tim’s slogan “souls before sales” applies as well. Tim desires for his team members to be among the highest compensated in the industry and wants to provide that compensation in a way that is never in competition with the best interests of the customer.
For example, in the natural health industry, it’s common for sales associates to receive varying levels of commission, based on the products being sold. Tim himself experienced this tension when as a young man working in a health food store, he was tempted to suggest a supplement that he knew was not the best solution to a customer’s problem but would earn him a higher commission. He never wants his team members to be faced with that kind of choice. Said another way, he wants to make it easy for his team to serve customers well.
As a result, he provides his team members a bonus that is based on the overall growth of the company, not only on personal sales. That way their work contributes to the bonus but is not directly tied to the particular products they recommend or sell. They can maintain a clear conscience and full integrity in pointing customers to the best solutions for their needs.
Team selection is as much about passion and desire to help people as it is qualificationsEveryone is on a journey, in life and career pursuits. It’s not always the case that job applicants know where they are headed or even what the job they are applying for will entail in its fullest manifestation. Knocking on doors and investigating employment opportunities is one of the ways we discover the path we are meant to take.
This is one of the reasons that Tim’s organizations are not looking for specific life experiences or qualifications when selecting new team members. They know that expertise can be gained through training and experience on the sales floor. What matters more is that the person being trained has the passion to make a difference, the ability to learn, the willingness to be taught (which is an entirely different thing), and a deep desire to help people. Those ingredients can be refined to become an effective sales or customer service associate.
Are you casting a personal, compelling vision for your team?Team members are not cogs in the machinery that accomplishes the mission of visionary leaders. Their personal journey and experience of life are just as important as any mission the organization may have. Leaders must recognize this and apply that knowledge to the way they lead the people under them. Care, compassion, and true encouragement expressed by leaders build a level of trust and loyalty to the organization that can’t happen any other way.
That’s why Tim endeavors to give himself daily reminders that the people he leads are valuable and important as human beings — and is also the reason why he communicates that fact to people often. None of us can overcome our insecurities, doubts, and fears without those influential others who remind us that the negative voices we hear are lying to us. Tim takes that responsibility seriously and desires to be a conduit of hope and encouragement to everyone he meets.
In my book, that’s a true leader.
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There are many people who impact you deeply as you go through life, but only some who do so more deeply than you know at the time. Chris Clarke-Epstein is one of those people for me. Chris was a unique individual who possessed a movie-worthy personality and style. Her speaking prowess was the kind that captivated audiences before they knew what was happening. She was a chameleon of conversation, artfully adapting the way she interacted with individuals to enable a connection based on who they were and what they had experienced.
Though she is best known for her storytelling and speaking she was also able to get right to the point, but in a way that made the person she was interacting with feel that they were being given the gift of knowledge and insight to be treasured. Our world is a richer place from having Chris in it. We will miss her.
Putting ideas into action requires change — in yourself and in how you respondAll of us experience times in life when we need to decide if we're going to bring our new ideas to fruition. If so, we will have to change our current behavior and actions.
Change is a strange thing, it affects each of us uniquely. Chris Clarke-Epstein made it her life’s work to discover why some people respond to change by stepping up to the challenge while others are trapped in overwhelm and miss the opportunity change provides.
She’s discovered that the measure of success in a person’s life is how they deal with the bends in the road that require change. Do they vacillate and delay out of fear or insecurity, or do they move ahead eager to discover a better future? The time between the two must diminish if we are to be good leaders and it’s our experience that shortens the cycle. Over time and as we grow, we find that what stopped us in our tracks earlier in life becomes something that we know we can get through by gathering our resources and moving ahead.
Organizational change impacts your team in a variety of waysLeaders need to understand that the people in their organization handle change in a variety of ways. What is more, learning the following about your team can help you guide them artfully and wisely:
Change is bigger in the minds of your team than it is in yoursYour team is typically not in the know about the details surrounding the change you're proposing. You’ve had time to process the situation and make mental, emotional, and practical adjustments. Your team typically hasn’t. You need to empathize with their experience and lead them along at a rate that they can keep up with. As you do, your team will process the change more healthily and come on board more enthusiastically.
Change is likely your choice, not the choice of your teamAs a leader, you need to force yourself back into the role of a follower for the sake of understanding the context within which your team is responding to the change being proposed. They have no control or say in whether the change takes place. It’s being dictated to them, they’ve got to adapt even if they don’t want to. Understanding that reality helps you patiently ask the questions required to understand their journey to the new reality you already see.
Your team needs to understand the benefits of the change that you already seeAs a leader, you need to understand that the benefits you see coming from the changes you’re implementing are not internalized by your team — yet. Their motivation and their enthusiasm about the change will grow the more they see the future benefits they will experience. So cast that vision. Keep talking about it. Ensure that your team understands the better future you’re headed to together.
Your team will believe in the need for change the longer and more consistently you talk about it70% of organizational change initiatives fail. Why? Much of the reason is that the leader fails to consistently cast the vision behind the change and equip and empower the team to accomplish it. A sustained effort will empower change initiatives, convincing the team that it’s really going to happen. So stick with one idea until it’s complete. Don’t let the next seminar or leadership conference you attend derail what you already have in place. If you are constantly bringing new ideas and changes to your people your ideas for change will quickly lose credibility.
These are just a sampling of the wisdom Chris shares in this conversation. It’s one I will treasure for years and am honored I was able to experience. Enjoy!
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The podcast currently has 79 episodes available.