True Grit with Craig Kautsch

Ever wonder what it takes to pull off an event like the Cowtown Marathon? An event that has 25k participants, 4500 volunteers, and unpredictable weather (with only 4 full-time staff) Check out this week’s episode of the True Grit Podcast and find out how the Cowtown has become one of America’s Favorite Marathon events.

I had a super enlightening interview with Heidi Swartz, the Executive Director of The Cowtown Marathon. With Heidi’s direction, the event has nearly tripled in size since 2004, with over 25,000 participants and seven races taking place the last weekend in February.

 In 2006, she created The Cowtown Marathon's associated non-profit organization, C.A.L.F. (Children's Activities for Life and Fitness), which in the past 11 years has provided over 40,000 pairs of running shoes to disadvantaged children along with greatly reduced entry fees for The Cowtown Kids 5K Run.

By bringing fitness awareness and running enthusiasm to local schools, Swartz – a runner, herself – is invested in making the City of Fort Worth a healthier place to live. Swartz was awarded the Great Women of Texas award in 2016.  She served on the original committee that formed "FitWorth," the Mayor of Fort Worth's healthy living initiative, and remained on the board serving as secretary. She serves on the Marketing Advisory Board for Visit Fort Worth, the Board of Directors for the Fort Worth Sports Commission, and serves as Secretary for the National Trade Organization, Running USA. Heidi Swartz is also a successful and in-demand speaker and consultant for other race events, acting as an expert in race management and producing multiple events throughout the year.

Useful Links:
Cowtown Marathon

This week’s guest is Robert Pollock.  Robert is a personality expert and is a consultant to over 70 CEOs across the country. Robert’s client mix ranges from real estate moguls, oil tycoons, and the biggest tech brands in the world.

This means he has a super unique perspective of what goes on behind the curtains in a wide variety of companies and industries.  

We have a really enlightening broad-ranging conversation about leadership, persona, and how to take the guesswork out of teamwork.  

You’re gonna love this one!

Useful Links and Book Mentions:
Culture Index
Books by Robert Pollock
"Traction" by Gino Wickman
"Rocket Fuel" by Gino Wickman and Mark Winters

Ever wonder how the brain works?  It can be so confusing because it’s usually described by a brain scientist...not a teacher.

This week’s guest is Staci Danford.  Staci is an educational neuroscientist with a master’s degree in Mind Brain Education.  She has spread her knowledge on the TEDx Talk stage and has 25 years of teaching and communication experience.  She was voted as one of Fort Worth’s Top 10 Teachers by Fort Worth Magazine. 

Her greatest desire is to encourage people to use their BRAINS to create the CHEMICALS of happiness so that together we can change the world.

Useful Links and Book Mentions:
The Noticer by Andy Andwers
The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
Atomic Habits by James Clear
TEDx Talk with Staci Danford
Connect with Staci on Instagram!

Get some timeless wisdom from a man who has seen behind the financial curtain of a wide variety of companies. This episode is loaded with nuggets to help you grow your business and be a better leader.

Joe Taylor founded the largest privately held CPA and financial services firms in Tarrant County. Joe grew up in a household with 6 brothers and sisters and still wears hand-me-downs to this day.  He married at the age of 20 and has been with Lynice for over 40 years. 

He has been squarely in my personal advisory board for at least a decade and has watched my companies almost go out of business multiple times and if it weren’t for Joe I’d probably be financially stressed out and a cart boy at the local country club. (no offense to my son)...

Enjoy Episode 9 of the True Grit Podcast!

If you think commercial real estate seems complicated you’ll enjoy learning how simple it actually is. Bruce Conti is the quintessential old school industrial real estate pro who owns over 2million sqft of warehouse space!  He brought his first building in 1996. 

He started out at TCU thinking he wanted to be a social worker but promptly pivoted when he saw most the pretty girls were interested in higher income brackets. It’s crazy what we do to get the attention of the girls! Bruce has a heartwarming story of creativity and innovation. So Hold tight while we explore his philosophies and strategies he used to build his commercial real estate portfolio.

Book Mentions:
How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan

Learn some of the key elements and principles on how to grow a company from virtually bankrupt to 16 Billion. 16,000,000,000… That’s NINE zeros, boys and girls. John Pinkerton is one of the wealthiest guys I know and he’s actually “normal.”  Get some practical Monday morning perspective on how to grow your own business on this week’s episode of True Grit.

John is one of my mentors and friends.  He grew up right here in FW and was a track star who held a hurdles record for over a decade! Ran track at U of H then transferred to TCU where he got a finance degree then got his MBA at UT. He’s been in the oil business since 81.  He’s been married longer than most millennials have been alive! Listen in to find out some of the strategies he used to build one of the biggest companies in DFW.

Book Mentions:
Half Time by Bob Buford

Everybody’s always interested in the business that grows overnight… This is a story of a long string of good decisions and fortitude. Learn how to make a difference and some money at the same time. My next guest is Scott Dennett.

Scott founded Dennett Construction almost 25 years ago… He started out with $300, a pregnant wife, mortgage, and two car payments and grew both his companies to almost 80 employees with revenues deep into the 8 figure range.

Some of Dennett Construction’s most notable projects include One Safe Place (Over 80,000 sqft), a 60-acre development called Champion Circle, and St Phillips Catholic Church. 

Scott has 2 kids and a wife of 25 years. He races motorcycles and bicycles and is a seasoned boxer with fast hands… (Trust me, I know what it feels like to get punched by Scott!).

Book Mentions:
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

If you’ve ever wondered how to  build your business and stay married you’ll thoroughly enjoy this conversation. Beau Glenn has an interesting story. A story of transition from hard-driving real estate environment to marriage counselor and then to teaching fathers and sons how to connect. Graduated from Texas Tech in 80 with a finance degree. He’s been married for 35 years and has 4 children. He was also mentored by Herb Weitzman who helped set the stage for him to become a partner with Trammel Crow in the early 90s.  

Beau was on a fast track to becoming the next commercial real estate mogul and decided to become a marriage mentor for Family Life instead. This launched him into his life’s passion (Pure Adventure).  You will love the heart of this man. Listen in while I tease out some timeless wisdom to apply to our most important relationships.

Book Mentions:
The ONE Thing by Gary Keller
The Motive by Patrick Lencioni
The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni
Death by Meeting by Patrick Lencioni

Victoria Wise is an energetic entrepreneur, and the first “Power Woman” I’ve had the opportunity to interview. She was named one of the “400 Most Influential People” in Fort Worth (2 years in a row!) and received the Legacy of Women Award by SafeHaven in 2018. 

She’s built and sold a multi-million dollar online jewelry auction site, and is now the founder and creator of the locally-famous “Tanglewood Moms”. She even got Zuckerberg’s attention when Facebook asked her to join the inaugural Small and Medium Business Council. Her more recent project has led her to launch one of Fort Worth’s favorite magazines Madeworthy!  It’s an incredible publication filled with stories about our community and more importantly the people who are making a significant impact. Most recently, she co-founded a racial reconciliation group for women called Heart Work.

Book Mentions:
Tribes by Seth Godin
Good to Great by Jim Collins
Built to Last by Jim Collins
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

Isaac Manning got his masters from MIT in Architecture and joined forces with Ross Perot Jr. and Mike Berry (Hillwood.) Isaac was involved in the birth of Alliance Airport, the nation's fastest-growing industrial complex. Alliance Airport is the world’s first industrial-only airport that has produced $84 billion in total direct investment for Alliance, TX since inception….and would likely not exist if it weren’t for the visionaries of Hillwood.  

They also were the brains and vision behind the:
Victory Project
AA Center
USAF Memorial in VA 

What you will find most fascinating was his bold move to leave Hillwood and go off on his own!

In 2002 Isaac founded Trinity Works and has been making a huge contribution to our city ever since! Projects like (Edwards Ranch/Clear Fork) 

With almost 30 years of development experience, I’ll give you a useful behind-the-scenes look at what it took to become such a dynamic entrepreneur and still be an awesome husband and dad of 4 boys. 

Mentions:
Every Good Endeavor by Timothy Keller
The Second Mountain by David Brooks

Not Impossible Project