Andy Wyatt is a Founder & Head Coach of Andrew Wyatt Leadership and he is out with a new book called Pro Leadership, which dives into how you can establish credibility, build a strong following, and lead with impact. In his book, he offers 24 leadership principles that he’s learned after being in business for more than 30 years. In this episode, Andy shares how business owners can pull their identity out of their business, drive effective culture, and so much more.
Key Takeaways:
[1:40] Figure out what you’d do for free and then figure out how to get paid for it.
[3:55] A lot of people want to write a book but never do it. Why is this?
[7:05] You have to excavate before you elevate, what does Andy mean by this?
[9:20] How do you separate the person from the business?
[11:15] Do you feel good or bad about yourself based on the uncomfortable whims of the business?
[11:55] There are three things every leader needs: A coach, a therapist, and a golf trainer (or tennis/gym trainer).
[14:15] Your biggest role as a leader is to create the culture.
[17:10] How can you drive culture and what makes someone a good leader in this space?
[19:50] What does character mean to you? Character is the way you act when no one is watching.
[22:15] Andy has had to learn a lesson the hard way when he tried to drive culture a little too fast in a company.
[25:05] Eighty-five percent of our leadership problems would be solved through better communication.
[27:45] How do you know a team has built trust? Watch how they handle a disagreement.
[29:35] What are some of the common mistakes people tend to make about leadership?
[32:00] It’s lonely at the top, but it doesn’t have to be. Leaders are notorious for isolating themselves.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Email Todd: Todd@Dynastylc.com
Dr. Terry Wu has a Ph.D. in neuroscience and started his online marketing firm in 2003. He also has a new book out entitled, Why the Brain Follows, which dives into the latest neuroscience research, how leaders can leverage our natural human behaviors, and the negative side of positive thinking. Dr. Terry shares some of his thoughts on leadership and why too many leaders leave it up to “chance” when it comes to getting the most out of their people.
Key Takeaways:
[1:40] How did Dr. Terry Wu get started in neuroscience and neuromarketing?
[3:55] Science can make leadership more predictable.
[5:10] A title doesn’t make you a leader and a leader doesn’t need a title.
[9:10] People love to follow a crowd. When you rally a small group of people behind you, some great things can happen.
[9:55] What does it mean to “lead with empathy”? Dr. Terry has some thoughts on why empathy doesn’t always work.
[11:15] Empathy actively causes pain. Dr. Terry breaks down what he means by this.
[17:55] We have an us vs. them bias in our brains. Empathy only confirms that bias.
[23:15] When people have a sense of control, they manage their stress a lot better!
[26:45] Dr. Terry explains what “toxic positivity” is and why positivity is not a choice.
[31:10] You can turn a very positive person into a negative person just by adding stress into their lives.
[33:40] What should leaders be looking out for in 2021?
Mentioned in This Episode:
Email Todd: Todd@Dynastylc.com
Ed Evarts is the Founder and President at Excellius Leadership Development and comes with more than 12+ years of leadership experience. He is also the author of several books, including Drive Your Career, which is what Todd and Ed dive into on this episode! How can you take charge and control your own destiny when you might be working with a boss that’s detached from your success? Ed shares his tips on how you can grow as well as develop your leadership abilities along the way.
Key Takeaways:
[2:05] How did Ed get started in leadership development?
[4:20] The first chapter details how to have a positive relationship with your boss.
[8:00] A large number of Ed’s clients, at least 85%, wished they had a better relationship with their boss.
[11:05] How can you be the most curious person in the room?
[14:15] How can you be curious in a group dynamic and not hog the room with your questions?
[19:05] Play with the hand you’ve been dealt.
[23:45] Communication and delegation is something most people want to improve on.
[27:50] For some leaders, when you leave the building, there’s a sense of relief from your team that you’ve finally left and they can now focus on ‘real work’.
[29:35] How can a Type A leader learn to slow down?
[33:35] What are some of the common mistakes people make?
[38:35] What is Ed’s podcast about?
Mentioned in This Episode:
Email Todd: Todd@Dynastylc.com
Email Ed: Ed@excellius.com
The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz by Erik Larson
Steven Goodman is passionate about providing insightful solutions to the challenges of business succession, wealth preservation, and charitable planning. Steven is an accomplished CPA and has more than 30 years of experience in the industry. He is also the author of the book, Business Succession Planning and shares insights on the number one thing business owners get wrong when they pass down their life’s work to their children.
Key Takeaways:
[1:00] Around 93% of businesses Todd has helped had family in their business.
[1:30] If not structured properly, the family business can cause family members to tear each other apart.
[3:15] How did Steve get involved in succession planning?
[4:35] Steve shares a couple of examples of a typical family business structure.
[6:50] What are some of the issues a family business runs into when it comes to a succession plan?
[9:55] You want to give the business to one child who has taken interest in it, but what about his/her siblings?
[11:00] Founders/parents are afraid to communicate with their children about who is getting what because they don’t want to sour their relationship and potentially never see their grandchildren again.
[14:15] No plan ends up hurting your entire family vs. having a plan that only one or two family members like.
[18:55] If a son comes to Steven and says he owns 0% of the business but has been working in it, what are Steven’s next action steps?
[26:15] This scenario that Steven just walked us through is not uncommon.
[26:35] What should parents or children in the business be thinking about when it comes to succession planning?
[34:00] What are the negatives to creating a trust for the family?
[38:20] What are some of the common mistakes families make?
[42:10] How can someone get started in planning the future of their business?
Mentioned in This Episode:
Email Todd: Todd@Dynastylc.com
Geoff Thatcher is the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Creative Principals and the author of The CEO's Time Machine, a fictional story about how a CEO created one of the most innovative companies in the world. Geoff shares his unique view and perspectives on how to elevate a brand through powerful stories and examples that will help you stand out from your competition!
Key Takeaways:
[4:05] By being so obsessed with only looking to the future, you can miss key insights and lessons that were learned from the past.
[7:35] When it comes to innovation and new decisions, the most important thing you have to do is make a decision, even if it’s the wrong decision.
[8:40] No matter what, there’s never enough information out there.
[10:50] How did Geoff get into this line of work?
[13:50] The book is written like a theme park ride. What does that look like?
[17:20] The experience model of track, trust, inform, interalize, and act is rooted in psychology as well in history.
[19:30] How do you build unique companies in ‘traditional’ industries and create a message that stands out from the competition?
[24:15] Once you know the type of person you are serving, then you can build a story around that avatar.
[26:00] What are some of the common mistakes Geoff sees people making?
[28:30] Tell a good story and no one will complain.
[30:00] Goeff shares an example of how you can create a story and make it memorable.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Email Todd: Todd@Dynastylc.com
Todd gets interviewed by Rick Brimacomb from Club E as he talks about his business model and how he helps his clients achieve 5X growth within five years. With a global pandemic going on, a lot of businesses are being left in the dark as they try to figure out their next big move. Todd shares whether we’re headed to a 100% digital society, some of the biggest mistakes he sees his clients make, and so much more, in this week’s episode.
Key Takeaways:
[1:55] A little bit about Todd and what he does.
[3:45] Were you really that good in your business or were you just lucky?
[7:40] How does Todd structure his planning sessions?
[10:40] Todd explains what the ‘Ikea Effect’ is and how it can help you.
[12:10] Who are Todd’s ideal clients?
[16:25] Todd breaks down his process on how he helps his clients grow 5X.
[19:55] Some of the biggest mistakes people see is when the CEO tries to also be the leader. Todd explains what he means.
[22:55] What have been the top highlights and key takeaways Todd has learned from his podcast guests?
[27:20] Ask yourself these questions to refine your strategic business plan.
[32:40] Have we now moved 100% to a digital society?
[34:15] What would the job market look like after the pandemic?
[39:55] If you want your company to stand the tests of time, it starts with having a strategic vision.
[40:50] What did Todd wish he’d learned sooner in his career?
Mentioned in This Episode:
Email Todd: Todd@Dynastylc.com
Jennifer Fernjack is a brain tumor survivor and through that experience, she learned the power of emotional grit. She used six strategies to help her get through her brain diagnosis and still uses these strategies today to change her brain chemistry for the better. In this week’s episode, she shares how to face your fears, leverage gratitude, and shift your perspective to see the positive in everything.
Key Takeaways:
[1:40] The glass of life is really half full. If your plan doesn’t work, tweak it and find a Plan B.
[5:35] Jennifer decided to turn this around and write a list of reasons why it was a good thing she had a brain tumor.
[7:10] Step 1: Get creative when coming up with Plan B.
[8:40] Jennifer walks through the six pillars that helped her overcome her diagnosis.
[10:45] Laughter will always make you feel good. Getting ready to go into a stressful situation? Find resources to make you laugh.
[11:50] Practice gratitude. Make a list of reasons why your bad situation is a blessing.
[12:25] Face your fears through cognitive reframing.
[17:25] Help others. By giving back, you get an endorphins boost.
[21:50] Jennifer shares an example of the power of perspective.
[24:25] What can the power of emotional grit do for you?
[27:20] Cut yourself some slack if you’re going through a hard time.
[29:05] Jennifer offers advice on the one thing you can do right now to improve your mental and emotional grit.
[30:35] What are the best ways to deal with isolation?
Mentioned in This Episode:
Email Todd: Todd@Dynastylc.com
PK Krihai and Natalie Watkins both work as an Employee Benefits Consultant for Marsh & McLennan Agency. Natalie started as an intern, where PK trained her and showed her the ropes of the role. Today, both PK and Natalie share their experiences and how impactful mentorship has been for both of them in their career growth.
Key Takeaways:
[1:00] The most important asset is your people, but how do you go about developing them?
[2:15] What does PK do for Marsh & McLennan Agency?
[2:55] How did Natalie find an internship at Marsh & McLennan Agency?
[4:15] What is PK’s mentorship style?
[10:05] How do you find time to mentor someone when you already have a full plate of work?
[12:55] Natalie was able to see everything PK was doing during work hours. She was following her everywhere she went.
[14:10] When faced with an angry customer during a sales meeting, how did PK and Natalie navigate that?
[18:00] As a salesperson, how does PK manage work-life balance?
[21:25] By watching PK work, it prepared Natalie for better success in her role when she started working full-time after she graduated college.
[27:15] What were some of the lessons learned along the way?
[30:45] Having someone shadow you during your working day does not require any extra time!
[36:15] There has to be a right fit when it comes to mentorship. Natalie shares her experience in trying to understand her mentor.
[38:15] PK shares what makes a good internship fair successful.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Email Todd: Todd@Dynastylc.com
Alain Hunkins is a leadership expert, speaker, and author. Over the course of his 20-plus year career, Alain has recognized leadership patterns that are both healthy and unhealthy. In today’s episode, he discusses how leaders can build healthy patterns and develop themselves. He breaks down three key traits that leaders need to know: Connection, communication, and collaboration.
Key Takeaways:
[2:15] How did Alain get into leadership?
[5:25] Every single chapter in Alain’s book ends with a call to action to help you quickly apply new strategies.
[5:55] What are the three secrets to building strong leaders?
[6:40] Leaders think they lead well, but studies show that only about 23% of people think that’s true for their leader.
[7:45] What is leadership, really?
[9:45] We need to create connections based on empathy. What’s the best way to do that?
[12:55] Another piece to building connection is your credibility. How do you build your credibility and trust?
[15:25] Leading through fear is great when the building is on fire. Everyday life, not so much.
[20:00] Alain shares an example of why the drive-thru process at fast-food restaurants was a nightmare, and how they fixed it.
[24:35] A week later, people only remember about 10-20% of what you communicated to them.
[27:45] Human beings can’t read your mind! How many times did you think something was clear when it wasn’t?
[34:40] Think about how to make communication easier for your audience, not for you.
[34:50] Once you’re connected and communicated effectively, how do you also collaborate effectively?
[38:45] How do we make people feel that what they’re doing matters?
[42:40] What are some of the biggest mistakes leaders make?
[44:50] Vulnerability plays a big part in a good leader.
[47:45] Ask people around you for feedback.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Email Todd: Todd@Dynastylc.com
Cracking the Leadership Code: Three Secrets to Building Strong Leaders,
by Alain Hunkins
Paul Annett is the Owner of inTransition LLC. He has more than 25 years of experience in corporate management and consulting and has successfully helped first-generation family-owned businesses transfer their leadership to the second generation. This is Paul’s second guest appearance and today he dives into what makes leaders successful. Paul believes it’s their ability to handle and manage conflict effectively (and their awareness of conflict in the workplace) that helps people feel heard and feel like their situation has been resolved.
Key Takeaways:
[1:50] What’s the most common cause of a leader’s long-term success or failure?
[2:15] Who is Paul and what does he do for his clients?
[5:15] How you deal with conflict determines the success of the relationship and the business.
[5:55] The funny thing is, the stronger the leader, the less awareness they might have about conflict happening within the organization.
[7:40] Everything in life is tied down to good communication. Paul has spent a lot of time studying how to deal with differences.
[8:15] What is conflict to you and how do you view it?
[8:40] There are two different definitions of conflict. Paul breaks this down.
[13:45] The common complaint Paul hears when people quit their job is that they didn’t feel listened to or heard.
[16:10] Paul shares his process on how he helps leaders become aware of their conflict patterns.
[19:30] To be in a relationship is to be in conflict. You’re never going to be in a relationship long-term without seeing things differently.
[21:35] There are three myths about conflict. Myth #1: Give it time.
[26:00] Myth #2: Confrontation weakens relationships.
[29:55] Myth #3: The presence of conflict equals bad management.
[31:55] Paul shares a story about how internal conflict was eating the business alive.
[37:55] How do you get people to engage in healthy conflict and face confrontation?
[47:00] There is your way, his/her way, and there is a middle way/third option. That’s the ground you want to try to strive for.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Email Todd: Todd@Dynastylc.com
Email Paul: Paul@inTransition.com
Call Paul: 651-261-0326
Ryan Tansom sold his family business to a local competitor for eight figures. After stumbling through the exit process, Ryan realized he left millions on the table and he could have controlled the outcome much, much better if only he had known! This is why he started the company Arkona and has developed a boot camp for business owners so that they’re aware of the steps they can take to make a successful exit. On this week’s show, Ryan shares his 5 Intentional Growth Principles!
Key Takeaways:
[2:35] What is Ryan’s boot camp about and how does it help CEOs?
[5:35] Ryan shares his entrepreneurial story and how he first got started in all of this.
[11:20] Investment bankers go in and look at the facts/numbers. If that means laying off 60% of the workforce, so be it! This is why it is important to talk to them beforehand about what’s important to you.
[14:50] It can be difficult to think about all the trade-offs and stick to what’s important to you if you don’t lay it out first. Since it’s your business, you have the power in this situation to get what you want.
[15:35] What financial targets should you be measuring and monitoring even if you don’t plan to sell?
[17:55] What is the risk of your cash flow? What’s the risk that it’s going to still be there tomorrow? Do you depend on China, for example?
[20:15] Make sure your evaluation and your price are realistic for your industry. Just because you heard someone make 5X to 10X on the sale of their business doesn’t mean it’ll apply to you!
[28:00] The biggest thing is people simply do not know/are not educated enough about this and that’s where the rookie mistakes end up happening.
[33:35] How can you strategically implement value in your company?
[40:00] Sign up for the boot camp to learn about this while you’re still passionate about the business, because when you figure out your number and want to sell, you may already be too burnt out to do the necessary steps needed to get your price.
[44:45] Either you’re going to be acquiring someone to de-risk your cash flow to continue growing or you’re going to be someone else’s target to de-risk their cash flow and keep going.
[45:15] Get yourself a team of advisors, but what does that look like?
[49:45] Ryan shares the types of lessons his boot camp students are walking away with.
[55:00] What can attendees expect at the boot camp?
Mentioned in This Episode:
Email Todd: Todd@Dynastylc.com
Call Ryan: 612-720-6530
Ken Gilmour is the CEO of Knogin, a cybersecurity company. Many small business owners are unaware of how much their data is worth. Ken shares some insights on hacks that have happened in tech, why firewalls and antiviruses aren’t always enough, and he shares 10 steps on what business owners need to know about protecting their business.
Key Takeaways:
[1:10] Cybersecurity is a hot topic but many business owners don’t know what they should be doing to protect themselves.
[3:35] Traditional cybersecurity tools are targeted for large enterprises, but the reality is there are more small businesses in the U.S. and these tools don’t cater to them at all.
[6:55] Entrepreneurs typically aren’t well-versed in cybersecurity. They just want something simple to protect them.
[9:30] What causes businesses to close down is not the fact that they’ve been hacked (although it doesn’t help); it’s the fact that their reputation has been damaged.
[9:45] It’s important to have a Plan B or a contingency plan on what to do if your company were to get hacked.
[12:40] As a company grows, one of the things business owners struggle with is managing user privileges and remembering who has access to what.
[15:05] Be aware of your ‘removable media’ like your USB keys or backup devices.
[18:05] A good monitoring tool that watches over your network can help you fight against tricky phishing emails.
[21:10] How can you secure your laptop, router, and other tech products?
[25:10] If you have an antivirus, you’re probably going to get hacked because those companies have been hacked themselves.
[26:45] Malware software doesn’t protect the ‘patient zero.’
[27:55] Ken explains why firewalls don’t always protect you against attacks.
[32:05] Amazon’s S3 buckets have been compromised and that was on the cloud. Sometimes the cloud is not the safest place to store things.
[33:15] What are some of the biggest mistakes business owners are making when it comes to their security?
[34:40] How do companies like Facebook make money? You are the product!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Email Todd: Todd@Dynastylc.com
Email: Ken@Knogin.com
Terry Moore has over 30 years of experience representing businesses and individuals in a wide variety of legal matters throughout Minnesota and North Dakota. He is a lawyer for Hellmuth & Johnson and talks about how you can turn the tables and profit from a crisis in three steps. There are clear action steps you can take when things go wrong.
Key Takeaways:
[1:00] Are you concerned about what kind of company legacy you’re leaving behind? Reach out to Todd!
[1:45] How do you turn the tables when you’re in a crisis?
[2:35] A little bit about Terry and what he does at Hellmuth & Johnson.
[3:50] Terry grew up in chaos (one of 11 children) and there was always something going on.
[6:00] Terry was in seventh grade when he found out his older brother had a brain tumor and died, and his family was able to profit. (Terry explains what he means).
[7:50] There are three steps you can take to help a crisis situation. Step 1: Clarify the problem with precision, Step 2: Control with prediction, Step 3: Close with power.
[10:00] If you are able to turn off or stop the problem, the symptoms will go away.
[10:25] Terry shares an example of what these three steps look like in reality.
[14:00] Never, ever underestimate the power or the influence of a spouse.
[16:45] How can you predict the future?
[20:25] Terry explains what the Nash Equilibrium Principle is.
[24:05] How do you get to Step 3: Close with power?
[29:45] What are some of the common mistakes people make in crisis mode?
Mentioned in This Episode:
Email Todd: Todd@Dynastylc.com
Email Terry: TMoore@HJLawFirm.com
Todd was invited to speak at a Club E event in Saint Paul last September and would love to share with you the interview in this week’s episode. You’ll find out a little bit more about Tom and his accomplishments, his thoughts on finding grand slam clients, and how to best bring on new business the smart way.
Key Takeaways:
[1:35] A quick introduction about who Todd is!
[3:15] How referable are you on a scale of 1-5?
[4:25] There are three things we look for, especially when we are networking. 1. We want clarity from our new friend. 2. We want brevity. 3. And we want uniqueness.
[11:15] How much does it take you to get one new client aboard?
[13:25] There are three characteristics in identifying grand slam clients: Demographics, timing triggers, and psychographics.
[20:45] Look for companies looking for innovation. They want the best for their company, regardless of the label.
[22:45] Todd shares an example of how bringing these three characteristics together can make a profound impact on your business and your community.
[28:55] Todd recommends that you have seven questions during the sales process to help you discover if they’re a good grand slam client.
[34:50] What looked great when you were a $5 million company will definitely change when you are a $25-50 million company.
[37:35] People willing to take vacations end up treating their people better.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Email Todd: Todd@Dynastylc.com
Eric Mitchellette is the Founder of Strategic Business Coach, Inc. and has over 20 years of experience as a financial advisor and CFO. He helps small to medium-sized businesses understand their financials and helps them become cash flow positive. Eric shares his process and some of the things you need to consider when you are looking to get a financial expert to open up the company books.
Key Takeaways:
[1:35] How did Eric first get started in business planning and capital formation?
[3:15] Cash flow problems are common but sometimes business owners are not aware of what state their company is in until it’s too late.
[4:40] How does Eric help business owners and turn their businesses around?
[7:55] When Eric steps in, the biggest thing he has to do is educate business owners and leadership the state of the company and what that means.
[11:50] After Eric knows where the numbers are, then it comes to adjusting the owner’s draw from the company and to restructure the finances so that it makes sense.
[16:00] When owing money to vendors, what’s the best approach or financial plan to let them know the company plans to make good on their promises?
[19:25] What happens to the employees during this financial turn-around time?
[20:35] If an owner has to exit, what are some of their options?
[25:50] What kinds of mistakes do owners tend to make?
[27:55] Eric shares his thoughts on next-generation family management.
[28:55] Final words of advice: You can’t plan enough. Have a strategic plan in place.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Email Todd: Todd@Dynastylc.com
Email Eric: EMitchellette@Sbciusa.com
Call Eric: 612-532-9284
Paul Annett is the Owner of inTransition LLC. He has more than 25 years of experience in corporate management and consulting and has successfully helped first-generation family-owned businesses transfer their leadership to the second generation. Paul was also responsible for growing a privately-held printing services company from $40 million to over $140 million. In today’s episode, Paul shares the four stages teams go through before they become a high-performing and high-functioning team.
Key Takeaways:
[2:15] What types of clients does Paul usually work with?
[6:45] Instead of building a high-performing team first, Paul works with the individual leadership members first. Everybody might be very talented, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they work well together.
[10:00] Paul breaks down the four different phases a team goes before becoming a successful and high performing team.
[13:55] The first phase is the forming stage where leadership takes the time to really get to know each other. You’d be surprised that even siblings in leadership roles might discover something new about what it’s like working with their brother or sister.
[14:20] The next phase is the storming stage. Leadership members can be stuck in the storming stage for years if they’re not careful and it can lead to a lot of conflicts and lack of trust.
[16:45] What’s the difference between healthy conflict vs. unhealthy conflict?
[22:50] With every bright side, there is a shadow. It’s important for leaders to be aware of both their strengths and their weaknesses.
[27:40] The third stage is the norming stage. This is where leadership can begin to align the mission of the organization with systems and processes.
[30:25] How do you know when you’ve successfully completed one stage and ready to take on another?
[31:40] The next stage is the performing stage. This is the stage that a lot of people don’t always realize they’re in because everything is so easy!
[38:05] What are some of the biggest mistakes teams make when going through this process?
[41:00] What is considered ‘healthy friction’ within teams?
Mentioned in This Episode:
Email Todd: Todd@Dynastylc.com
Email: Paul@inTransition.com
On Becoming a Leader: The Leadership Classic, by Warren G. Bennis
Kurt Theriault is the President of Allied Executives, a locally-based peer group organization in the Twin Cities for CEOs, Business Owners, and Key Leader Executives. Kurt discusses on today’s episode who would be a right fit to join a peer group, some of the benefits, and some common mistakes new members tend to make.
Key Takeaways:
[2:50] How did Kurt first discover Allied Executives?
[7:00] Who is considered the ‘right’ member or client for Allied Executives?
[10:35] Being able to share your challenges in front of a room of like minded individuals really can help unblock you.
[12:50] There are different types of peer groups out there. How do you know what’s right for you?
[15:20] The good thing about attending a peer group is that you get workshops and continuous education on important topics and challenges you’re facing.
[18:00] Allied Executives has a diverse group of people that are local to the Minneapolis area.
[19:00] When does it make sense to call a place like Allied Executives?
[27:00] What are some of the biggest mistakes members tend to make?
[29:50] Kurt is active on LinkedIn. Feel free to reach out!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Email Todd: Todd@Dynastylc.com
The Road Less Stupid: Advice from the Chairman of the Board by Keith J. Cunningham
Anne deBruin Sample is the CEO and Owner of Navigate Forward, where she helps executives in transition discover and find their dream jobs. A four-page resume is no longer sealing the deal, so it does take outside-of-the-box thinking to generate quality opportunities. Anne shares how her company can help executives find a career with purpose and meaning on this week’s episode!
Key Takeaways:
[2:05] What does Navigate Forward do?
[3:30] What does the average client look like for Anne?
[4:05] Why do executives seek out Anne’s services?
[7:15] Anne walks through the onboarding process when taking on a new client.
[11:30] It really does take time and conscious thinking to discover your next career steps. This discovery process can’t be rushed.
[13:40] Anne believes resumes are outdated. People simply don’t make hiring decisions on them anymore.
[16:45] The next step is to network with your rolodex to find those dream opportunities.
[18:15] Anne shares some of the worst networking meeting she’s ever taken and offers tips on how to network effectively.
[19:55] It can take executives to land their dream job between 3 weeks to 18 months. It does take time and a bit of patience to get prepared.
[23:40] Navigate Forward is still with you even after you’ve got the job. Anne and her team will help you with onboarding and transitioning!
[26:35] What makes Navigate Forward different?
[29:10] Anne shares some common mistakes executives tend to make when finding their dream job.
[31:20] Building and maintaining your network is a critical process for any executive.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Email Todd: Todd@Dynastylc.com
The 20-Minute Networking Meeting - Executive Edition: Learn to Network. Get a Job
Jim Zuehlke is a Principal at Cardinal Board Services, a company dedicated to maximizing the effectiveness of company boards. They can help you with everything from board member recruitment, onboarding, and facilitating. Jim shares his expertise on today’s show about how to onboard the perfect board member for your company based on size and vision.
Key Takeaways:
[4:00] A board for your company helps you keep current with the trends.
[4:55] When does it make sense to have a board?
[7:15] The very first thing that Jim likes to do is do an analysis on the company and see what types of board services they might need.
[12:15] After the analysis phrase, Jim likes to get everything down in writing so that everyone is clear about their next steps and he can also show this document to a potential board member.
[14:20] What does Jim mean by finding a ‘2X person’?
[17:00] How does Jim determine the right compatibility between a board member and the company?
[22:05] The process to onboard a new board member is slightly different than onboarding a team member or a C-suite executive.
[26:15] What are some of the biggest challenges of getting a board member?
[28:35] Is it beneficial to hire a board member that can open doors for them?
[31:15] Jim shares some of his thoughts about diversity and its importance.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Email Todd: Todd@Dynastylc.com
Email Jim: JimZ@Cardinalboardservices.com
John Morris and Ken Saddler are both CFO advisors for small-to-medium businesses at B2B CFO. Between them, John and Ken have over 50 years of financial experience. On today’s episode, you’ll learn the benefits of hiring an outside CFO to help grow your company, some common mistakes business owners tend to make when it comes to their products, and how you can get started on getting a better grasp on your financials.
Key Takeaways:
[1:20] What does B2B CFO do?
[2:20] How do you become an advisory CFO?
[3:30] What’s the difference between a CFO vs. a controller or an accountant?
[5:15] How hands-on do John and Ken get when it comes to a client’s financials?
[7:25] What kinds of entrepreneurs and companies do John and Ken work with?
[10:20] John and Ken share examples of what type of work their clients come to them for.
[15:55] What are some of the best ways to open up the financials with your managers?
[17:50] When do business owners really need CFO services?
[22:30] John and Ken share their process on how they onboard a new client.
[25:30] Stop giving your product or service away for less than its worth!
[29:55] What tips do John and Ken have for business owners that they can start doing today?
[33:40] John and Ken share some common mistakes they see in their industry.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Email Todd: Todd@Dynastylc.com
Email Ken: KSaddler@B2BCFO.com
Call Ken: 952-380-6406
Email John: JohnMorris@B2BCFO.com
Call John: 612-385-9199
Mark Coronna is the Area Managing Partner and Chief Marketing Officer for Chief Outsiders, a firm that providers contracting CMO executives and strategic management consulting services to companies in transition. On today’s show, Mark explains his process, the types of companies that benefit from a temprorary CMO, and how a company like his can help companies working through an acquisition or transition.
Key Takeaways:
[:30] Todd has some fun facts and statistics about company acquisitions.
[2:10] What do you do when you want to reach more quality prospects without breaking the bank?
[4:40] When does it make sense to hire a part-time or contracting executive?
[8:50] Small to midsize companies are looking to diversify and Mark’s firm can help you find new opportunities in your market.
[11:40] After finding key growth opportunities, Mark looks into how to actually execute an effective plan for the company.
[16:00] CEO’s have a hard time understanding the true value of what they’re getting in their marketing.
[18:25] What happens to the company’s existing marketing team when Mark and his team take over?
[20:45] What kind of mistakes does Mark seen over and over again?
[23:35] Marketing is complex and it only gets more so as the days go by.
[24:25] Can startups afford a company like Mark’s?
[26:20] Mark has published four free ebooks on the subject of marketing and growth that you can download on the Chief Outsiders website!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Email Todd: Todd@Dynastylc.com
Email Mark: MCoronna@ChiefOutsiders.com
David Mann is a classically-trained actor and uses his background to help companies tell better and more compelling stories. With over 25 years of experience, David teaches professional services leaders how to make an impact by clarifying their message. Does everyone in your company have a different idea of what you really do? David is here to help! Find out more about the great work David is doing on today’s show!
Key Takeaways:
[2:15] How did David get into acting and how does it connect with storytelling?
[3:25] How does David help companies and professionals create a compelling story?
[6:10] How much time do you typically have to grab someone’s attention?
[10:40] You have to win someone’s attention over and over. It’s not easy!
[12:40] What is David’s process to help people tell a compelling story?
[16:10] Your client is the hero of their own story, and truth be told, you’re not involved in their story. So, what are they looking for in their story and how can you connect them there?
[21:15] David always likes to ask the sales and marketing team what the company does. He will always get at least six completely different versions.
[30:00] After crafting your laser-focused message, you have to make sure it’s threaded through everything you’re doing in your messaging.
[32:15] What kinds of mistakes do companies tend to make when crafting their message?
[37:50] Go around your office and talk to the people that work there; ask them what the company does and see what they say!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Email Todd: Todd@Dynastylc.com
Sally Peine helps guide mid-size companies through complicated HR practices. She works for Insperity, which is considered a Professional Employer Organization (PEO). If you’ve never heard of what a PEO does, don’t worry! Sally gives an in depth explanation on how a PEO can help business owners through complicated health care matters, employment work comps, and so much more that take up a lot of time and resources for a company.
Key Takeaways:
[2:00] What is a PEO?
[3:15] How does Insperity work?
[5:40] Each situation is very custom and personal, so the cost of a service like this is difficult to determine right off the bat without first understanding specifics.
[7:40] Sally shares an example of what it might look like to work with a PEO.
[11:25] What happens when you have to let somebody go?
[14:45] Keep your best practices and policy as clean as you possibly can.
[17:35] When is it the right time to use a service like Insperity?
[22:00] Insperity helps you simplify all the vendors you need for your company to run (like HR, employment lawyers, health care, etc) down to one partner.
[22:40] Insperity ideally works with business owners who have between 5 to 150 employees.
[23:15] Even though it’s a partnership, what kind of objections do owners typically have before outsourcing some of their key staff management practices to Insperity?
Mentioned in This Episode:
Email Todd: Todd@Dynastylc.com
Call Sally: 952-960-5305
Email Sally: sally.peine@insperity.com
Lisa Kro was the Co-Founder of Mill City Capital, a private equity firm in Minnesota. Lisa has worked and served on a dozen different boards and has a wide range of experience; everything from non-profit to small business that turned into big business! On today’s show, Lisa is here to explain the importance of a board for your company, some of their responsibilities, and best practices to recruit new board members.
Key Takeaways:
[2:40] How did Lisa get started in becoming a board member?
[3:10] What’s the importance of having a board of directors?
[4:35] When does it become necessary to have a board of directors?
[5:20] What’s the difference between a board of directors vs. a board of advisors.
[7:25] For a board of advisors, who should fill those seats?
[10:00] What’s the purpose of a board?
[12:50] It’s important to have a diverse set of people sitting on the board to help bring new perspectives into your company.
[16:10] Who is in charge of setting the strategy for the business? Does the responsibility still fall on the CEO or is it now the responsibility of the board of directors?
[17:30] How can the board help with a CEO succession plan?
[19:45] Lisa shares how a board can help grow and develop talent.
[22:10] How often do mergers and acquisitions work out well for companies?
[25:20] You and your lawyer want to sit down and write out exit strategies for your board members.
[26:45] What kinds of fiduciary responsibilities does the board of directors have?
[28:15] How big should a board of directors be?
[30:00] To be a part of the board, how much of a time commitment is it?
[36:20] It’s important to reflect on past mistakes, but you should not dwell on them. Lisa recommends no more than 20% of reflection time during a board meeting.
[39:00] It’s really helpful to have an appointed mentor for new board members coming in.
[41:10] Another tip: Get board members to meet directly with high-performing employees.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Email Todd: Todd@Dynastylc.com
Todd Eberhardt has switched the tables and will be the one being interviewed on this week’s show! Todd’s production assistant, David, will be hosting and asking Todd a series of questions about what Todd does at Dynasty Leadership and why he is a big advocate of the Catapult process.
Key Takeaways:
[2:40] Who is Todd and how did it all get started at Dynasty Leadership?
[5:45] David does a quick recap of each of the steps in the Catapult process.
[7:30] What does the average team look like when Todd is putting together a company?
[8:10] How can leaders start to plan for their future vision and story?
[10:40] The next step is defining your core values.
[12:00] Once you know where your values are, you will have an easier time defining the roles and responsibilities of each staff member.
[14:45] Todd takes leaders through a growth exercise where they envision their company at 5X growth.
[19:00] How do leaders establish a ‘meeting pulse’ in their company?
[22:00] How often does Todd meet with leadership teams to implement this process?
[22:55] What kinds of mistakes should you be aware of during this process?
[26:25] What have been the biggest takeaways for Todd over the years of using the Catapult process?
Mentioned in This Episode:
Email Todd: Todd@Dynastylc.com
Call Todd: 612-845-2076