Mission & Margin

Sometimes the only way to become a better leader is by building your experience and making mistakes. Matt Tresidder experienced this at Pushpay when he moved from the company's first sales hire to the VP of Sales in just three years. Matt is now the CEO and co-founder of Leadr, a people development software focused on hiring, training, and developing leaders at every level of an organization. In this episode, Matt reflects on some of the biggest leadership lessons he's learned throughout his career, and he shares some practical insights about his approach to leading in periods of economic uncertainty, hiring Gen Z employees, prioritizing one-on-one meetings, and much more.  Episode Recap: How did you end up in the U.S. after growing up in New Zealand? (2:14)What motivated you to work at Pushpay even though it didn't pay? (7:24)What were the biggest lessons you learned at Pushpay? (9:39)Can you tell us about the moment you realized your mindset about leading people needed to change? (19:16)How did the altMBA assignment about empathy impact the way you lead? (26:45)What's the origin story of Leadr? (30:25)What changed when you joined Leadr that helped you not feel imposter syndrome anymore? (37:10)Why should one-on-ones be a top priority, and how can leaders conduct them effectively? (46:00)How do you prioritize culture in the midst of economic uncertainty?(56:34)How does trust inform your leadership style? (1:00:07)What do leaders need to know about hiring Gen Z? (1:04:32)How to connect with Matt and learn more about Leadr (1:09:19) Get Connected: Subscribe to the Mission & Margin newsletterShop Mission & Margin to support the podcastFind more Mission & Margin episodes and resources  Links and Resources Mentioned:   LeadrPushpayLife Leadership CollegealtMBAWharton Executive Education ProgramCam Hanes“Radical Candor”“Thanks for the Feedback”Follow Matt on LinkedIn and TwitterMatt's Blog

This is a special bonus episode/cross podcast post from my friends at Wildsparq. Wildsparq is an incredible leadership development platform for your organization. It provides a simple, scalable plan to grow your people personally and professionally. It has it all: Engaging content. Dynamic discussions. Measurable progress. I hope you enjoy this special episode! Show Notes: Sonder: the realization that each person is living a life as valuable, vivid, and complex as your own. Lean in as Tim Sweetman, Operator at Chick-fil-A Millsboro in Delaware and host of the Mission & Margin Podcast explains how to live a life of genuine curiosity. This episode is packed full of valuable takeaways on dreaming big, trusting the process, and doing the hard things. Video Tim references in the episode: Danger of a single story Connect with the host - Josh Swing

For Brent Beshore, the key to a successful business is not creating more elaborate plans, but rather allowing God to direct your journey. Brent is founder and CEO of Permanent Equity, a firm focused on investing in companies for the long-term. In this episode, Brent shares some of the foundational principles that drive Permanent Equity, including the “no asshole” rule, the importance of great posture, and how the three types of motivation impact his leadership. This episode is packed with valuable insight for any business owner or leader.  Episode Recap: Can you tell us your backstory and explain why you call yourself “the Forrest Gump of private equity?” (2:29)How has your faith journey impacted your career? (13:23)Why is posture more important than goals? (27:37)What is “the no asshole rule,” and why is it important to you? (35:08)How does focusing on Jesus help you make sure you're giving feedback well? (42:51)Why is “uptrinsic” motivation the most valuable kind, and how does this idea relate to freedom? (50:04)Why did you stop saying “we buy boring businesses?” (1:09:58)How do you stay profitable while staying true to your mission? (1:14:22)What encouragement would you give to leaders in 2022? (1:21:37)How to connect with Brent (1:26:03) Get Connected: Subscribe to the Mission & Margin newsletterShop Mission & Margin to support the podcastFind more Mission & Margin episodes and resources  Links and Resources Mentioned:   Permanent Equity Love ColumbiaWashington and Lee UniversityO'Shaughnessy Asset Management“Confessions of a Bad Boss in Recovery”C.S. Lewis“2021 in Review”“Our ‘No Asshole' Policy”Brent Beshore on Twitter and LinkedIn“How to Acquire Your First Smaller Company”“Risk, Return and the High Wire Act”“The Messy Marketplace”The Messy Marketplace Podcast

It may feel tempting to roll your eyes when someone talks about Gen Z or to write them off as immature or entitled. But as leaders, we should be focused on mentoring and engaging with this generation. In this episode, Dr. Josh Packard shares some of his findings as executive director of Springtide Research Institute, the organization with the largest dataset on American young people. He explains why accountability, inclusion, and diversity are so important to Gen Z, and he shares practical advice for leaders and business owners about building trust and providing mentorship to their young employees. Episode Recap: ●     How did you become interested in researching young people? (2:03) ●     What differentiates your methodology from other researchers? (5:35) ●     Why should leaders care about the next generation? (10:44) ●     Who are the parents of Gen Z, and what parallels can we draw there? (17:04) ●     What have you learned about this generation's mental health? (21:53) ●     Can you explain the distinction between attendance and belonging? (27:29) ●     How can employers build trust with their Gen Z employees? (33:56) ●     Why is accountability important to this generation, and what does that look like? (42:22) ●     What questions should leaders be asking their Gen Z employees? (46:58) ●     Can you share some final advice for leaders? (52:10)   Get Connected: ●     Subscribe to the Mission & Margin newsletter ●     Shop Mission & Margin to support the podcast ●     Find more Mission & Margin episodes and resources ●     Springtide Research Institute ●     Follow Dr. Josh Packard on Twitter ●     Listen to The Voices of Young People Podcast

One of the challenges of growing a successful business is that you'll likely reach a point where you realize you can't manage everything on your own. American Asphalt Company Chairman Bob Brown exemplifies what it looks like to build a team of gifted leaders instead of relying only on his own strengths. In this episode, Bob shares some of the biggest lessons he learned from purchasing a struggling business with five employees and growing it into a large, successful company. He also explains how he's transformed the organization's culture and values and discusses his decision to set up an ESOP.

Jesus taught that people would know who we are as Christians by our love for each other. And often, loving people well requires us to have difficult conversations and call out injustice in the world. In this episode, Denine Blevins reflects on the changes we've seen in the U.S. in the past 10 years since Trayvon Martin's murder. She explains how the message of the Gospel can remind us that injustice exists and empower us to approach difficult conversations with courage and grace. Denine is an incredible leader who has started several ministries and dedicated her career to bringing people together. She's currently the executive director of Parakaleo, an organization that offers training and support to women in the church planting space. Get Connected: ●      Subscribe to the Mission & Margin newsletter ●      Shop Mission & Margin to support the podcast ●      “Talking About Race” by Isaac Adams ●      “Stronger Together” by Maria Garriott ●      Equal Justice Initiative website ●      Learn more about Parakaleo on the website, Instagram and Facebook ●      Find more Mission & Margin episodes and resources

Tim Sweetman just graduated from the altMBA. The altMBA is a 31-day online leadership workshop founded in 2015 by Seth Godin. It celebrates our shared humanity and provides students with the skills they need to be impactful leaders and make meaningful change. It has transformed the lives of over 4,800 leaders in more than 90 countries around the world and is the flagship workshop at Akimbo. It requires an application to be considered for enrollment and is limited to 125 students per session. We use digital tools like Slack, Discourse, and Zoom to facilitate the learning process. The altMBA is a commitment of time, money, and effort. Students should be prepared to spend at least 20 hours a week to make real change happen.

Do robots and artificial intelligence have anything to do with Christianity? For Dr. Joshua K. Smith, the answer is unequivocally yes. Joshua is a pastor, theologian and author of “Robot Theology” and “Robotic Persons,” two books that explore the implications of robotic technology and the potential of dehumanization as we become more and more reliant on artificial intelligence. In this episode, Joshua explains why it's so important for today's leaders, especially Christian leaders, to talk about these issues. He also discusses some of the ethics of using the data available to us as business owners, and how to do so without being manipulative.  www.missionandmargin.co

When Alex Harris was a teenager, he and his brother created The Rebelution, a movement to show that young people are capable of more than most people expect. In this episode, Alex revisits some of the messages he wrote about in Do Hard Things and explains what he's learned about faithfulness and intentionality in the years since. He also shares about his experiences attending Harvard Law School as a young father and clerking for a Supreme Court Justice.

When Gretchen Heinen discovered the freedom that passive income unlocked for her, she knew she wanted to share it with others. Gretchen is a nurse, founder of the Net Worth It School, and host of the Net Worth It podcast. In this episode, Gretchen explains how she overcame self-doubt and fear of failure, and she offers advice to other working moms who feel like they don't have enough time to pursue their passions. Gretchen also shares her unique perspective on letting go of your relationship with money and viewing wealth as a tool.  www.missionandmargin.co

When Ben Palka decided to plant a church in Washington D.C, he knew he'd need to keep the city's unique culture in mind. In this episode, Ben shares the unique approach he and his team took when starting King's Church. He also explains how he's led a diverse congregation in times of great political division, and he shares the strategies that helped King's Church grow exponentially through the pandemic, even when they weren't meeting in person. 

When Chaplain (Colonel) Tommy Vaughn left the military to pursue a career in full-time ministry, he never expected to re-enter. But after feeling God's call to return to the military, he became a military chaplain in 2002, serving on many assignments including with the 2nd Infantry Division in Kandahar. Colonel Vaughn now works to help chaplains transition from military life to full-time ministry with the Chaplain for Life program. In this episode, he shares about his experiences and reflects on some of the biggest lessons he's learned about leadership, ministry, and the importance of walking with people in the midst of difficult circumstances. 

Josh Dellaria has spent time both serving in ministry and working in the corporate world, and through that he's discovered a passion for working with people who are not believers. In this episode, Josh shares his story of transitioning from seminary to taking a role at Ecolab, where he had a unique opportunity to lead people in an industry that he knew little about. He also talks through some of the biggest lessons he's learned about caring for and listening to his team, and he shares some strategies he's used to find better balance in his busy life.

In a time when distrust in institutions and leaders is running rampant, Dr. Matthew J. Hall believes servant leadership is the key to restoring people's faith. In this episode, Dr. Hall shares about his fascinating life journey, from moving to Spain at a young age to finding his passion for theology in an elective college course to becoming the provost at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also discusses some of the biggest issues he's noticed among Christian leaders and shares some practical steps he's taken to become a healthier leader for his organization.

Tithe.ly CEO and Founder Dean Sweetman and Pastor Michael Whittle created the Kings & Priests podcast because they wanted to help other Christians engage in meaningful conversations about business, tech, and entrepreneurship. Dean and Michael both have pastoral backgrounds but have also started and run successful companies. In this episode, Dean and Michael share about the process of building a mission-minded business. They also provide practical steps business owners can take to help the idea that Christian businesses are inherently less profitable or have lower standards, and they talk through some helpful ways Christians can think about economics. Check out vast.faith for more on Kings & Priests Podcast.

Shannon Logan started True Core CrossFit because she wanted to create a space where people could show up as themselves and feel empowered in their fitness journey. What started as a massive leap of faith has turned into a successful business that focuses not just on CrossFit training, but also on nutrition, online training, and more. In this episode, Shannon shares her inspiring story of starting True Core, and she offers practical advice to business owners who are ready to take action to start improving their lives. She also walks us through a breathwork exercise for easing stress and anxiety.

After years of climbing the corporate ladder, Mike Farag knew his life needed to change after going on a mission trip to Haiti. He started with a brief marketing project for the Global Orphan Project but soon realized he wanted to help other non-profits and faith-based organizations market their work more effectively, which led to the creation of Fervor Marketing. In this episode, Mike discusses some of the biggest lessons he's learned while building Fervor, and he offers advice to leaders who are looking to better incorporate their faith into their businesses.

As the Chief Operating Officer at Anchor Investments, Josh Etress sees firsthand how building a profitable business can equip people to give back to their communities. And even before working at Anchor, Josh has built a career based on leadership and investing in the people around him. He served as vice president of sales and customer experience at Wildsparq, development director for Campus Outreach, and as a member of the leadership team at FireSeeds. In this episode, Josh shares some of the practical strategies he uses to cultivate a strong team, creating an environment where people feel comfortable sharing feedback and partnering with their leaders to achieve more together.

What in the world is this Mission & Margin podcast all about?  Frankly, I'm not 100% sure. But that's sort of the point. I'm on a journey to find out.   What I do know is this: I want to have compelling conversations with business owners, company founders, non-profit leaders, theologians, and thought leaders about how it's possible to both care for people while also running a wildly successful business or organization.  Because frankly, that seems pretty difficult to do. 

When it comes to non-profits, the role of money can be challenging. But this episode of The Mission & Margin Podcast features someone who has successfully navigated the terrain and inspired others along the way. Bob Bennett, Director of Development for Delaware Fellowship of Christian Athletes, shares his unique experience as both a highly driven private-sector businessman and an equally passionate coach inspired to service. He uses 3-Dimensional coaching to bring out the best in the young athletes he mentors. Along the way there have been many lessons Bob generously shares, from coming to understand the downsides of ego to trusting God, staying authentic and getting over any hesitation about fundraising. He and host Tim Sweetman discuss best practices for building team morale and simple ways for leaders to stay centered and refreshed, spiritually and in every other respect. Enjoy this compelling look at a leader who understands that – far from mutually exclusive – profit and faith are actually companions, working together in the service of big-picture goals.

Cam Woolford provides strategic and tactical leadership and direction for Servant Leaders International. He has been in ministry now for over 25 years as a missionary in Latin America. He has served in the United States, Mexico, Ecuador, and in Costa Rica, doing church planting, discipleship, and leadership training. He has his bachelor's degree in Bible/Missions from Clarks Summit University in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, and his Master's degree in Organizational Leadership from Cairn University.  For more episodes and show notes visit www.missionandmargin.co. Follow Tim: Twitter: twitter.com/timsweetman Instagram: instagram.com/tim.sweetman Facebook: facebook.com/timsweetman

Jimmer is the franchise owner of two Chick-fil-A restaurants in upstate New York. He holds a bachelors in Mathematics from State University of New York College at Potsdam and an MBA from Clarkson University.  Following his time at Clarkson, Jimmer spent over 20 years in Supply Chain at IBM where he rose to leadership as an executive.  He'll share more in his story today, but a visit to the Chick-fil-A headquarters began an unexpected journey to franchise ownership of a Chick-fil-A restaurant in 2018.  In late 2020, Jimmer was diagnosed with ALS, a neurological disease that debilitates a person's muscle systems.  He is married to Betty and they have three children ages 20, 18, and 12.  For show notes and past guests, please visit missionandmargin.co. Follow Tim: Twitter: twitter.com/timsweetman Instagram: instagram.com/tim.sweetman Facebook: facebook.com/timsweetman