Relative Profitability

If you have not heard the first part of this conversation with Nathan Cox and Brad Israel, you should hit pause and find it just before this episode in your podcast player. That first portion of the conversation builds the foundation for this second half, so you’ll want to go back and listen to it first! Nathan is the founder and CEO of 68 Ventures. As CEO, he serves as the leader, visionary, and culture driver for the respective companies that fall under 68 Ventures’ umbrella. Brad is the chief leadership advisor. As chief leadership advisor, he speaks and consults with companies and teams on leadership development.  68 Ventures is a vertically integrated real estate company with an extensive portfolio of companies that work within every aspect of real estate “from trees to keys” along the Gulf Coast. Their focus is on development, construction, real estate, and related services within the region. This is a conversation about implementing competency modeling, some of 68 Ventures’ core values, and how to balance life and business in a season of tremendous growth. Listen in to this episode to hear what they have to say!  Highlights from this episode Implementing competency modeling [2:01] How to balance life & business in a season of tremendous growth [8:06] Meaning behind the 5 stones logo design [16:58] Recap from my first interview with Nathan Cox & Brad Israel (Part 1) In part one of my interview with Nathan and Brad, we talked about where they both came from and how they grew up together attending the same grade schools. We talked about Nathan’s football abilities and his experience playing for Alabama. We chatted about Brad’s trajectory from the military to his career and then how he and Nathan began working together through 68 Ventures. If you haven’t yet listened to that episode, go back and listen to it first! This second half of the conversation is going to be all about implementing competency modeling and how you can balance life and business while in a season of tremendous business growth. Listen to hear practical steps for how you can balance your personal and professional life — you do not want to miss this conclusion! Implementing Competency Modeling Competency modeling gave me a paradigm shift around making sure that I can define what success looks like and giving an individual, pre or post-hiring, a framework for how success is measured. The truth is, people want clarity in their roles and responsibilities, and everybody wants feedback on how they’re doing. I know that modeling competency on a monthly and quarterly basis in the last couple of years has completely changed our organization. So I asked Nathan and Brad to speak to competency modeling and the impact it has had in their own business.  Nathan shared with me that it was painful at first to implement competency modeling because they were experiencing 30% growth year over year. It took a lot of patience and over-communication to get everyone to buy-in to the idea of slowing down to start a new performance evaluation system and implement new training on how to do things. However, it’s been completely worth it because now any new startup that joins the 68 Ventures portfolio, knows no different — it’s just the way they do things. Listen in to this episode to hear just how transformational competency modeling has been for 68 Ventures! Balancing Life and Business as a Busy Entrepreneur As entrepreneurs, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind of growing a business. So much so that one or more areas of our lives can begin to be neglected. I asked Nathan and Brad to share with me how they balanced their personal and professional lives during those rocky seasons of growing their business. The insight they both gave me was fantastic, but the bottom line is this: you can’t be all things to all people and you need to be in control of your schedule instead of letting it control you. Listen to this episode to hear their best practical advice for balancing both professional and family life! Resources & People Mentioned Scott, Nate, & Ted with Atlas Navigator Connect with Nathan Cox & Brad Israel At 68 Ventures’ Website Follow 68 Ventures on Facebook Follow 68 Ventures on Instagram Follow 68 Ventures on LinkedIn Subscribe to 68 Ventures on YouTube Connect With Rich Daughtridge www.Daughtridge.com  Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Linkedin Follow on Twitter Subscribe on YouTube Subscribe to Relative Profitability onApple Podcasts, Spotify Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Imagine a vertically integrated real estate company with an extensive portfolio of companies that work within every aspect of real estate “from trees to keys.” That’s exactly what my two guests on this episode, Nathan and Brad, have built along the Gulf Coast.  Nathan Cox is the founder and CEO of 68 Ventures. As CEO, he serves as the leader, visionary, and culture driver for the respective companies that fall under 68 Ventures’ umbrella. Brad Israel is the chief leadership advisor. As chief leadership advisor, he speaks and consults with companies and teams on leadership development. Their company, 68 Ventures, is focused on development, construction, real estate, and related services within the region. This is a conversation about all things culture, growth, what matters to them, and how they treat their employees and their team. Listen in to this episode to hear what they have to say!  Highlights from this episode Personal introductions and family life [2:33] Education and sports backgrounds [5:28] Military experience before working together [9:21] Transitioning to 68 Ventures [11:32] Culture code and core values [17:31] Using insight discovery profiles before hiring [19:34] What is 68 Ventures and How Did it Come to Be? Effectively, 68 Ventures is a vertically integrated organization that’s centered around real estate and construction along the Gulf Coast. Their goal is to be able to simply explain how anything they’re involved in fits and ties into what they’re trying to accomplish. According to Nathan, it seems like they have a complex operation going, but when it boils down it’s very simplistic.  How did 68 Ventures come to be? Upon returning from his deployment, Nathan began as a real estate agent and grew from there to open up a one-man brokerage firm. One of his friends, Charlie Dodson, joined him there and they continued to grow over time into new arenas. They were able to grow into these new spaces because people either weren’t in the space already or people lacked the licenses to help them get something started and be able to springboard and grow in that area. Listen in to find out how they were able to scale their own business and how they do the same for other businesses now! Culture Code and Core Values: Central Criteria for Partnering with Companies It is important to make sure that companies are aligned with 68 Ventures’ culture code and core values before partnering with them. They want to bet on leaders who understand their values and are totally bought into their purpose, which is to see all they can do with all they’ve been given. Once they find leaders who fit their culture and align with their core values, they want to give them everything they need to succeed. In Brad’s own words, “you get what you tolerate.” If you don’t set standards and put people in the position to be successful and provide them the training necessary through onboarding, there will be confusion. There is a reason the same core values and purpose statement is across all companies that they’ve partnered with — so that things can run as smoothly as possible across the network. Listen in to this episode to hear more about meeting company culture criteria before partnering — and the rewards they’ve reaped by doing so! Using Insight Discovery Profiles Before Hiring Someone Nathan mentioned to me that Brad administers Insight Discovery tests to everyone before hiring them. He said he would rather take his time to vet someone and see how they lead and manage and communicate as a team so that he can have proper expectations that are in alignment with who they are as a person. It is better to slow down and take the time before hiring someone that isn’t a good fit. It’s not only expensive to unwind and exit an ill-fitting partner, but it also creates emotional turmoil for everyone involved. Listen to hear exactly how you can avoid making this type of mistake!  Resources & People Mentioned Insights Discovery Test Connect with Nathan Cox & Brad Israel At 68 Ventures’ Website Follow 68 Ventures on Facebook Follow 68 Ventures on Instagram Follow 68 Ventures on LinkedIn Subscribe to 68 Ventures on YouTube Connect With Rich Daughtridge www.Daughtridge.com  Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Linkedin Follow on Twitter Subscribe on YouTube Subscribe to Relative Profitability onApple Podcasts, Spotify Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

If you’ve not heard the first part of this conversation with Doug Ulman, you should hit pause and find it just before this episode in your podcast player. There were so many excellent nuggets of information in that portion of the conversation, you’ll want to go back and listen to it first!  Doug is responsible for overseeing the strategic vision and direction of Pelotonia and also serves as an advisor to The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. Pelotonia is a community determined to see an end to cancer. Their mission is to engage, inspire, and challenge a community committed to changing the world by accelerating innovative cancer research. Since Pelotonia’s inception in 2008, over $218 million has been raised to fund cancer research, and 100% of those proceeds have been donated. It’s impressive and inspiring. Join us as we talk about creating engaged employees and making an impact on this episode of Relative Profitability! Highlights from this episode Thinking beyond transactions [2:29] The future of Pelotonia [8:00] Recap from my first interview with Doug Ulman (Part 1) In part one of my interview with Doug, we talked about coping with the entrepreneurial grind from a family perspective, and community-building as part of social entrepreneurship. If you haven’t yet listened to that episode, go back and listen to it first! This second half of the conversation is going to be about how to create engaged employees through an integrated approach instead of just a financial transaction between a business and an organization. Listen to hear how you can weave purpose and mission into your business — you do not want to miss this conclusion!  Thinking beyond transactions Historically, companies that wanted to participate in a cause thought that they had to do it a certain way, and most times it ended up being transactional. They would host a fundraising event or ask the employees to donate, and that’s not bad, but it doesn’t build a lasting culture of engagement. What Doug encourages people to do is think about what assets beyond financial that they have within their business that can be powerful and leveraged — maybe that’s human capital, maybe it’s knowledge and resources, maybe it’s a product. Whatever those assets are, it’s about building an integrated approach to engagement. After all, engaged employees are better employees. Listen to this episode to hear Doug give an excellent example of what it means to think beyond transactions and create a culture of engagement.  The Future of Pelotonia Doug shared with me that during 2020, because of the pandemic, he and his team stepped back and did a 5-year strategic plan. Since hosting in-person events during COVID was not possible, it gave them the time to step back and create this strategic plan because they weren’t doing all of their normal events and fundraising activities. Doing this 5-year strategic plan has set Pelotonia on a course to grow significantly. They’ve got a plan to double their impact on an annual basis, not only with participation and fundraising but also with the impact of the research. Doug is hoping to have more clinical trials and more funding for scientists with big, bold, audacious ideas. He’s hoping for a geographical expansion beyond central Ohio as well. The idea is to get more people involved and connected to the cause and to extend the ability to participate to those who maybe care about cancer research but aren’t going to go to Ohio in August to ride a bike. Listen to this episode to hear more about the exciting things to come for Pelotonia! Connect with Doug Ulman At Pelotonia’s Website Like Pelotonia on Facebook Follow Pelotonia on YouTube Follow Pelotonia on Twitter Follow Pelotonia on Instagram Find Pelotonia on Apple Podcasts Connect With Rich Daughtridge www.Daughtridge.com  Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Linkedin Follow on Twitter Subscribe on YouTube Subscribe to Relative Profitability onApple Podcasts, Spotify Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Do you remember those LIVESTRONG yellow bracelets everyone wore years ago to raise awareness for cancer? Of course you do, everyone remembers the 105 million yellow rubber bracelets that were sold. I talk with Doug Ulman, one of the founders of that organization, and now-CEO of Pelotonia, a non-profit organization that is raising money to aid in cancer research.  Pelotonia is a community determined to see an end to cancer. Their mission is to engage, inspire, and challenge a community committed to changing the world by accelerating innovative cancer research. Since Pelotonia’s inception in 2008, over $218 million has been raised to fund cancer research, and 100% of those proceeds have been donated. It’s impressive and inspiring.  Doug is responsible for overseeing the strategic vision and direction of Pelotonia and also serves as an advisor to The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. Join us as we talk about social entrepreneurship and community-building on this week’s episode of Relative Profitability!  Highlights from this episode What is Pelotonia? [2:22] What was it like at the beginning for Pelotonia? [10:07] Coping with the entrepreneurial grind from a family perspective [12:46] How Doug has gotten through the low points as a social entrepreneur [15:59] Community-building as part of social entrepreneurship [18:48] Thinking beyond transactions [23:50] The future of Pelotonia [29:57] Coping with the entrepreneurial grind from a family perspective At the beginning of any startup, non-profit or not, we put in extra hours to try to get things off of the ground. I asked Doug how he balanced those long hours in the early days with Pelotonia and his family life. He told me that since he loves what he does, it’s hard to consider it “work,” which can absolutely blur the lines between home and work-life even further.  During some of the more stressful times, there were days where he’d come home from working 10, 12, 14 hour days and just lay down on the floor and let his kids crawl all over him which helped him to de-stress. He also mentioned that it’s essential to emphasize to his children why it’s important to do work that matters and he shared a story with me about how his daughter knew 2 years ago that he was doing very important work. Listen in to this episode to hear it! Community-building as part of social entrepreneurship It’s human nature to want to be around other people. People want to share experiences and feel like they belong to a community. Our job as social entrepreneurs and community-builders is to provide a platform for people to do something important to them. So how can we give people the chance to do something special that they might not otherwise get the chance to do? How can we bring people together and align them with a common goal, especially in a world that is becoming increasingly fragmented and divided? Listen in to this episode to find out! Thinking beyond transactions Historically, companies that wanted to participate in a cause thought that they had to do it a certain way, and most times it ended up being transactional. They would host a fundraising event or ask the employees to donate, and that’s not bad, but it doesn’t build a lasting culture of engagement. What Doug encourages people to do is think about what assets beyond financial that they have within their business that can be powerful and leveraged — maybe that’s human capital, maybe it’s knowledge and resources, maybe it’s a product. Whatever those assets are, it’s about building an integrated approach to engagement. After all, engaged employees are better employees. Listen to this episode to hear Doug give an excellent example of what it means to think beyond transactions and create a culture of engagement. Connect with Doug Ulman At Pelotonia’s Website Like Pelotonia on Facebook Follow Pelotonia on YouTube Follow Pelotonia on Twitter Follow Pelotonia on Instagram Find Pelotonia on Apple Podcasts Connect With Rich Daughtridge www.Daughtridge.com  Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Linkedin Follow on Twitter Subscribe on YouTube Subscribe to Relative Profitability onApple Podcasts, Spotify Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Do you find yourself wanting to evaluate your team’s performance but not knowing where to start or how to do it? Are you lacking a system for helping your teammates grow both professionally and personally? If so, you’ll want to listen in to this week’s episode of Relative Profitability.  Scott Luberto is the co-founder and head of product at Atlas Navigator. His official title, however, is the Chief Enthusiasm Officer — aka CEO. I hired Scott’s firm a few months ago to help my company, improve upon our quarterly and annual reviews and to help us support our team members’ professional and personal growth. Join us on this episode of Relative Profitability as we talk about performance management systems! Highlights from this episode What is involved in the process of competency modeling? [1:25] What is a performance management system? [3:06] Defining excellence and understanding what that looks like [5:14]  From assessment numbers to action [9:19] How to tell if you have engaged employees [12:23]  What is a performance management system? Essentially, a performance management system helps people have a good understanding of where they currently stand with their skills and where the business is trying to go, so they can know where they fit in. It’s also about having a good conversation and improving communication.  First, we must understand what skills are needed for each role in the business. What does success look like for any given job in the organization? Secondly, there will be a review process. Not only will there be a review from me, but there will also be a self-assessment and in some cases, a peer will assess them as well.  Once roles are understood, success has been clearly defined, and assessments have been done, we can then connect the dots by assigning action items to help team members get to where they need to be. Listen to this episode for more on the topic of performance management systems! What does it mean to define excellence in your organization? According to Scott, defining excellence in your organization means establishing the rules everyone will be playing by. It’s asking yourself, “What does ‘great’ look like?” To take it a step further, what does “great” look like for beginners, for someone proficient, and for someone that is an expert?  To gauge competencies, everyone must know what is considered excellence, so they’ll know what to strive for and what to measure themselves up against. Basically, they won’t know what they don’t know. It’s not necessarily an easy process, but what is the alternative? The alternative is having team members that have different ideas of what they should be striving for — which is not good. Listen in to this episode to hear more about defining excellence when it comes to a performance measurement system. From assessment to action: Helping team members get from where they’re at to where they need to be.  Once excellence has been established, and competencies can now be measured, this is where the fun part comes in — in my opinion. As entrepreneurs, we have the opportunity to reframe the conversation of performance assessments. It doesn’t have to be a rigid assessment. We don’t have to hit our employees over the head with a hammer. Instead, to quote Scott, “If there's a hammer it's to build you up with, not to tear you down.” I couldn’t agree more. It’s all about the opportunity for growth and becoming a better person and professional. Ultimately, that’s what’s going to move the entire organization forward. The organization will move forward from getting team members the help, training, and resources that they need to develop themselves personally and fulfill their job role to a level of excellence. Check out this episode to hear more!  Resources & People Mentioned Thrive by Design by Don Rheem (book) Connect with Scott Luberto At Atlas Navigator’s Website Like Atlas Navigator on Facebook Follow Atlas Navigator on LinkedIn Follow Atlas Navigator on Instagram Follow Atlas Navigator on Twitter Follow Scott Luberto on Facebook Follow Scott Luberto on Twitter Follow Scott Luberto on Instagram  Follow Scott Luberto on LinkedIn Connect With Rich Daughtridge www.Daughtridge.com  Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Linkedin Follow on Twitter Subscribe on YouTube Subscribe to Relative Profitability on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Have you ever seen an astronomically priced domain name for sale and wondered if you could get it for a more reasonable price? If so, Keith Richter is your guy. Keith Richter is the co-founder and director of sales at Lumis, a digital asset brokerage and consulting agency. Lumis helps businesses and organizations acquire digital assets, including domain names.  When Keith was the vice president of one of the largest brokerage firms in the industry, Domain Holdings, he realized that the marketplace was incredibly difficult to interface with and that it is often done on purpose. He asked himself the question, “who is representing the end-user?” Finding no one, he put on his entrepreneurial hat and stepped up to fill that void in the marketplace and his company has seen tremendous growth because of it. Keith told me that since 2017, Lumis has negotiated between $30-40 million in brokerage and helped over 500 companies in 6 continents. He also told me that in 2020 Lumis was named number 2 in the world for the master of domains through escrow.com. Listen in to find out how you can protect your brand by acquiring digital assets (including a domain name) on this episode!  Highlights from this episode What is digital asset consulting and how did Lumis come to be? [2:49] What categories of services does Lumis offer? [5:16] What is involved in determining the value of a domain name? [7:26] Protecting your brand [10:04] What about trademarks and patents? [11:45] Acquiring digital assets outside of domain names [14:22] The importance of choosing the proper extension [16:06] What process does Lumis use to help their clients acquire a domain name? [19:35] How does the escrow component work? [20:53] Fun facts from the domain name world [21:43] What is involved in determining the value of a domain name? Essentially, the purpose of determining the value of a domain is so the end-user can get a fair price for it — similar to the way that the housing market works. When it comes to buying a domain name and determining its value, Keith told me there are several factors involved. A domain name is valued on 3 very important things: its online appraisal, comparable sales, and who owns it. This is where strategy and knowing the marketplace comes into play. Join Keith and I as we talk about the process of domain valuation and acquisition from start to finish. The importance of choosing the proper extension I asked Keith about the significance of choosing the right extension for a domain name and he had quite a bit to share with me about it. He shared everything from how an extension can impact search engine optimization (SEO), to its impact on people’s perception of a brand’s legitimacy.  Keith also shared 5 of the top extensions today, which extension is considered antiquated and is currently being phased out, as well as the extension where he’s seen the most buyer’s remorse. You’ll have to listen in to find out what they are!  Protecting your brand Even though social media is a huge part of marketing strategy in this day and age, domains are still king. Domains can even help protect your brand, believe it or not. While it is important to acquire digital assets such as social media handles, they are not enough to protect your brand. Having a patent or a trademark isn’t enough to protect your brand either. I cannot stress the importance enough, it’s critical to secure the proper domain name. Keith gave me some specific examples of instances where having a domain name would protect a brand. In his own words, “You really can't quantify the spend because, in the end, any marketing campaign that you run will never do as much for your company as the day that you acquire your domain.” Yes, it’s that important. Listen to hear exactly how your brand can be protected in such a way.  Connect with Keith Richter At Lumis’ Website Like Lumis on Facebook Follow Lumis on LinkedIn Follow Lumis on Twitter Connect With Rich Daughtridge www.Daughtridge.com  Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Linkedin Follow on Twitter Subscribe on YouTube Subscribe to Relative Profitability onApple Podcasts, Spotify Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

As an entrepreneur, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and grind and just push through the hard things. I like to call it having “mental toughness,” but in doing so it’s possible to end up mentally fatigued. Join my sister Alyson and I as we talk about four strategies for combating mental fatigue as an entrepreneur in the age of COVID. Alyson has a master’s degree in counseling, she’s a stay-at-home mom of three children (aka the CEO of the house), works part-time at a counseling and wellness center, and is the wife of a business owner. You’ll find her insight as a counseling professional and the wife of an entrepreneur so helpful. I urge you to listen and put these four strategies into effect in your life. Highlights from this episode Strategy #1: Mindfulness [3:51] Strategy #2: Vulnerability [6:18] Strategy #3: Gratitude [12:02] Strategy #4: Self-care [14:47] Is pushing through the hard things in business honestly the answer? As an entrepreneur, it is incredibly tempting to just put my head down and push through the obstacles that I face. Is that honestly the answer though? Is sprinting harder really going to solve my business problems? Or will it eventually lead to burnout and mental fatigue? When life and business feel too heavy, focusing on mindfulness can help ground us and bring us back to the here and now. My sister Alyson says it’s important to acknowledge your feelings, thoughts, and fears — the things that you’re struggling with in business. Whatever it is that is in your mind at that time, acknowledge those feelings and thoughts without judgment. Developing the skill of mindfulness can help entrepreneurs reduce anxiety and stress because not stopping to acknowledge our feelings can lead to mental fatigue. Feelings and emotions can only be repressed for so long before they begin to bubble up and out. In this episode, Alyson and I talk about mindfulness as a strategy to combat mental fatigue and what it means to be more mindful.  Gratitude: hyped buzzword or effective strategy to flip your mindset? An effective way to combat mental fatigue, anxiety, and the overall hustle of the everyday that is especially draining right now during COVID is to start the day with gratitude. Alyson told me that focusing on what I’m thankful for can help flip my mindset. It doesn’t matter how exhausted and down I am, I should always be able to find something I’m grateful for. As an example, when business feels hard and is wearing me down, I can still be thankful that I’m providing for my family. The key is bringing attention to and focusing on what you’re grateful for, and that’s what can help turn your mindset around. Asking myself, “what’s most important?” can help refocus me too. Listen to find out other ways that you can help ground yourself and practice gratitude. Self-care: What exactly is it and why is it so important for entrepreneurs? Self-care is critical to combat mental fatigue. Granted it doesn’t have to be an extravagant trip to the spa for an entire day or a fancy getaway. For me, it can be something as simple as working out consistently — even if I don’t enjoy doing it in the moment. For others, it may be eating healthy or stepping away for 20 minutes. It’s going to be different for everyone though, so it’s important to find what recharges your batteries and gives you that burst of energy to go on in your business. Alyson points out that, “the important thing to remember with self-care is to not just do it when you're stressed. In the times where it feels kind of easy and life feels okay, keep that self-care going because that's what's going to sustain you later when the stress does come.” Wouldn’t you agree? Listen to hear it straight from Alyson’s lips and to get some ideas for self-care and how you can implement it regularly into your routine, in a way that works for you. Resources & People Mentioned Enneagram Personality Test Brené Brown - The Call to Courage (Netflix) Hope Counseling and Wellness - where Alyson works part-time Connect with Alyson Clark Alyson Clark on Instagram: @AlysonDClark  Connect With Rich Daughtridge www.Daughtridge.com  Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Linkedin Follow on Twitter Subscribe on YouTube Subscribe to Relative Profitability on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

How Strength Comes Out Of Difficulty with Jason Brezler Part 2, Ep #12 If you’ve not heard the first part of this conversation with Jason Brezler, you should hit pause and find it just before this episode in your podcast player. It sets the stage for the topics we discuss in this portion of the conversation. The ongoing COVID situation has pushed all of us, leaders and non-leaders alike, into situations we never dreamed we’d face. For many, it’s taken a toll mentally as well as financially. Jason’s experience as a Marine coupled with his current experience as a New York City Fire Fighter and leader of Leadership Under Fire provides a rich perspective through which to view the circumstances of our day. He offers hope and sage advice during this conversation for leaders of both small and large organizations. Don’t miss it.  Highlights from this episode Jason’s advice for those struggling with mental struggles [1:08] Concerns about the messages sent to people during the COVID pandemic [5:30] Reframing to consider the long game in our current climate [8:20] Going through the fire makes us stronger, not weaker As Jason and I spoke about the effects of the COVID pandemic, we both recognized that the financial impact on many people was only part of the equation. While financial stress can produce emotional challenges, there’s also the loss of purpose many have experienced through furloughs, layoffs, and the like. But there’s’ more to it than even that. The language used to describe the situation has sent clear messages to many, messages that their job is “non-essential” and consequently, the feeling that they may be non-essential as well. Jason is concerned about this unintended consequence of the pandemic response and is hopeful that progress with a vaccine and innovative approaches to business will provide the opportunity for many to get back to work and contribute in ways that feel meaningful to them. But he’s also encouraging people to find simple but valuable ways to be of benefit to others and tells a quick story of an opportunity he had to do exactly that. Mission matters to everyday people, not just high-performing individuals We all need to know that what we are doing in life is important. That doesn’t only have to do with our career or employment, it’s also about making a difference to other people. Leaders are in a unique position to provide such opportunities to the people they lead. Don’t try to make it earth-shattering or tremendously complex, just empower your people to do things to help them feel that they are doing something relevant and meaningful for others. And keep encouraging those you lead. Why? Because it’s becoming evident that people are losing heart because of the slog the battle against COVID has been. We were told, with all the optimism in the world, that we would ex[erience a few months of inconvenience, and then we’d be back to normal. That simply hasn’t turned out to be the case. Naturally, hope deferred is a discouraging thing, so as a leader, make it your job to encourage your team daily. Compelling header paragraphs(s) Resources & People Mentioned BOOK: Tribe by Sebastian Younger Connect with Jason Brezler At Leadership Under Fire’s Website Like Leadership Under Fire on Facebook Follow Leadership Under Fire on LinkedIn Follow Leadership Under Fire on Twitter Follow Leadership Under Fire on Instagram Find Leadership Under Fire on Apple Podcasts Connect With Rich Daughtridge www.Daughtridge.com  Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Linkedin Follow on Twitter Subscribe on YouTube Subscribe to Relative Profitability on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Jason Brezler is the Founder and President of Leadership Under Fire; a program that equips leaders and organizations with human-centric processes, practices, and skills needed to optimize human performance in high-risk settings. Jason is also a New York City Lieutenant firefighter and a US Marine. He has been deployed overseas several times, and it is in these high-intensity situations that Jason developed the skills necessary for being able to lead under fire. In part one of my interview with Jason, he shares his expertise on leadership in high-risk settings. Listen to his remarkable stories and advice on optimizing human performance and leading under pressure! Highlights from this episode Jason’s professional interests [3:03] How did deployment help shape Jason’s view of leadership? [3:51] How did Leadership Under Fire discuss its perfect name? [5:22] Leadership as both a science and an art [7:53] What challenges come with leading a group of diverse people? [10:48] Human performance optimization - what does that mean? [12:50] 3 keys to succeeding in high-risk settings [14:06] Finding the right leadership mindset [17:20] How can I enhance my performance mentally, emotionally, and morally under stress? [19:54] How did deployment help shape Jason’s view of leadership? Jason told me that without question, one of the most formative experiences of his life professionally, and one of the most formidable challenges he’s ever navigated as a leader, was when he deployed to Fallujah, Iraq with an infantry battalion of Marines. It was at the height of the war there.  As he reflected post-deployment trying to make sense of what he had seen, experienced, witnessed firsthand, gotten right, and also gotten wrong in Iraq, he was able to contemplate with fellow marines that were also in the same position.  When he came back from that deployment, he realized that much of what he had learned while there was counterintuitive.  It was then that he and his marines made somewhat of an informal pledge to share those lessons with leaders and other high-risk or highly-competitive industries. That’s exactly what led to the creation of Leadership Under Fire. Human performance optimization - what does that mean? I know that human performance optimization can sound like a mouthful, but it simply means preparing leaders and organizations for the moral, physical, and mental rigors critical to optimal performance and leadership in high-risk and highly-competitive settings. This is done by developing strength of mind, body, character, and critical thought. The 3 keys to succeeding in high-risk settings: If I would have asked Jason what it was going to take to win in an incredibly lethal environment prior to his deployment, he would have said: weapons, technology, and the best intelligence available. Except, that deployment experience taught him that the three things that mattered most were in fact... Well, you’ll have to listen to find out! Connect with Jason Brezler At Leadership Under Fire’s Website Like Leadership Under Fire on Facebook Follow Leadership Under Fire on LinkedIn Follow Leadership Under Fire on Twitter Follow Leadership Under Fire on Instagram Find Leadership Under Fire on Apple Podcasts Connect With Rich Daughtridge www.Daughtridge.com  Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Linkedin Follow on Twitter Subscribe on YouTube Subscribe to Relative Profitability on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Lynda Ellis is the multiple award-winning Owner, President, and CEO of the Washington, D.C.-based Capitol Concierge. Under her leadership, the Capitol Concierge brand has become synonymous with best-in-class service and top-notch professionalism. Lynda was recently named one of the most admired CEOs in the DC area. In the last episode, we talked about the path leading up to her purchase of Capitol Concierge. In this episode, we continue the discussion with how she started Capitol Concierge and how she continues to grow it today. Join us to hear the fascinating conclusion to this interview with Lynda! Highlights from this episode What it means to be a corporate concierge. [2:00] The importance of standards. [9:02] The importance of caring for your employees. [10:17] Lynda’s advice for new entrepreneurs. [14:18] Creating time for our clients When I asked Lynda to describe what Capitol Concierge did on a day to day basis, she described her employees as the happy people at the front desk — the “Debbie Cheerleader,” in Lynda’s own words. Her clients are property management companies that provide any number of services for the tenants in the building. In the past, Capitol Concierge has done anything from babysitting services to obtaining hard-to-get restaurant reservations to subcontracting for housecleaning and even renovation services! Debbie said the bottom line is that they do anything that makes their client’s lives less stressful by giving their time back to them. Listen to the podcast to hear all of the amazing ways they accomplish this feat!  Take care of your employees Lynda stressed the importance of caring for the people that work for your organization and said that without her employees she wouldn’t have a company. However, it goes even deeper than that. Lynda believes the people she hires are entrusting their livelihood to her. She takes it very seriously when someone chooses to work for her company and believes that her one job as CEO is to provide support to her people. Lynda said that if she expects her employees to provide 100 percent service and then she doesn’t provide that to her employees, she doesn’t know how she can keep expecting it. Her philosophy is to make sure that anyone who works for her company, no matter the length of their employment, leaves better for having worked there. Listen to the podcast to hear all of Lynda’s excellent views on the subject of her employees! If it ain’t fun, don’t do it Lynda has two pieces of advice for people wanting to go into business for themselves. The first? When somebody says you can’t do something, don’t believe them. If it’s important to you, you will figure out a way to do it. Her life and career path are full of examples of where it is possible to always find a way. And the second piece of advice? If it ain’t fun, don’t do it. Lynda expands on her views of this second piece of advice in our interview. Listen to hear why having fun in your business is so important! Connect with Lynda Ellis Capitol Concierge Capitol Concierge on Facebook Follow Lynda on LinkedIn Capitol Concierge on Twitter Capitol Concierge on Instagram Connect With Rich Daughtridge www.Daughtridge.com Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Linkedin Follow on Twitter Subscribe on YouTube Subscribe to Relative Profitability on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Lynda is the multiple award-winning Owner, President, and CEO of the Washington, D.C.-based Capitol Concierge. Under her leadership, the Capitol Concierge brand has become synonymous with best-in-class service and top-notch professionalism. Lynda was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada and developed a passion for customer service at an early age. She started a babysitting company when she was 12, when the going rate for babysitting was a quarter an hour. She learned the lesson of value-based pricing by happenstance, when the father of three young girls asked her at the end of the night how much he owed her. Instead of giving a direct answer, she told him to pay whatever he thought it was worth to him. She walked away that night, not with the typical 75 cents, but a crisp twenty dollar bill! Join us on this episode to hear this story and more on Lynda’s journey to becoming owner of Capitol Concierge! Highlights from this episode Lynda’s values in business and life. [6:38] Lynda’s first business venture. [8:44] How Lynda took an idea and turned it into a business that sold to Neiman Marcus. [20:00] Make your energy work for you Lynda was raised by her father in Las Vegas and credits him with teaching her the first life lesson that left a lasting impression. Filled with love, her father was born and raised in Belfast and focused on character, determination and reputation. Some early lessons that stuck with Lynda were that you are only as good as your word, to be accountable for your actions and to give back. Lynda was in fifth grade when in a fit of temper, she broke something. Her dad told her that she could make that energy work for her or against her, and that she had just made it work against her. She said this lesson helped her learn to stop and breathe — take a step back first — before reacting. This lesson has stayed with her throughout her life.  The only thing holding you back is you When Lynda was 22, she moved to Japan to be closer to her now-husband. She said that agreements in place in Japan at the time prevented her from getting a job. However, another of her dad’s rich lessons came into play during the nine years she was in Japan. He taught her that the only thing holding you back is you. As long as you believe that, you can work to overcome anything. She said it was very hard, but she found a way to get the status she needed (called Status of Forces) and worked for the Red Cross until she became pregnant. This was in the early 1970’s, and Lynda lost her job when she became pregnant.  Lynda was able to find another position with Chrysler International Worldwide, ultimately becoming their sales administrator. Her belief in herself led her to make many changes while with Chrysler — both for the company and their import business as well as for herself. She was able to lower their import fees drastically, and attributes that to the many lessons she learned by observing and living among the Japanese culture. Listen to this episode to hear all of the lessons she learned while overseas! Keep looking for the unique opportunities Once Lynda and her family returned to the states, there were some rough patches where she was going to school, raising their daughter and working three part-time jobs to help keep them afloat after her husband lost his job. Lynda’s early life taught her how to look for unique opportunities — one such unlikely opportunity led her to selling a small company she created to Neiman Marcus! Lynda’s curiosity and ingenuity led her down a path that ultimately led to her working for and eventually buying Captiol Concierge. Listen to the fascinating journey Lynda took to get her to this point! Connect with Lynda Ellis Capitol Concierge Capitol Concierge on Facebook Follow Lynda on LinkedIn Capitol Concierge on Twitter Capitol Concierge on Instagram Connect With Rich Daughtridge www.Daughtridge.com Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Linkedin Follow on Twitter Subscribe on YouTube Subscribe to Relative Profitability on Apple Podcasts, Spotify

On the last episode of The Relative Profitability podcast, you got to hear about Nate Salatin’s early days of entrepreneurship — he got his entrepreneurial start selling duck eggs to restaurants as a young teen! Nate is president and co-founder of Atlas Navigator and has helped us in the past with our performance management systems. In this episode hear all about the tips and tricks Nate has learned along the way on his truly impressive entrepreneurship journey.  Highlights from this episode What Nate has learned to maintain balance. [2:20]  The key things you need to expand your impact. [3:07]  Nate’s personal purpose: create opportunity for others [6:04] One of the challenges of entrepreneurs. [8:19]  Advice to young entrepreneurs. [11:55] The keys to expanding your business impact What kind of impact will you and your business have? Nate says to expand your impact, both personally and professionally, you have to look at a few key things — relationships, experiences, and resources — and figure out how you can have the most impact with these.  He said finding that which aligned with who and what he was would give him the most experiences.Too often, once people graduate from college, they coast. They stop aggressively pushing their own comfort zones and stop expanding their experiences.  It’s the same with relationships. When Nate started looking for a job, he was all about networking but said he got comfortable in what he was doing and the networking stopped. Relationships are incremental. They don’t happen overnight. You have to keep investing in them. Listen to this episode to hear about how Nate integrates the last key factor — his resources — into the equation! Impact = vision Nate believes impact must be built into strategic planning. He said impact becomes just as important as marketing, finance, and operations. He sees impact as the fourth core business function. In order to build it into his business strategy, he asks the question: What are we going to do over the next 90 days to make an impact based on our core values and beliefs? Nate calls this a vision and thinks about it as a lens or filter of those core values — the things he is passionate about.  Nate talked about many more important aspects and values needed for a successful business. Among some he mentioned were the value of connection, teamwork, and playing to your strengths. One of the things he knew he must have in order to be successful starting out was a cofounder. Teamwork is very important to him. He also mentioned self-awareness and staying vulnerable among the valuable qualities of a good leader. Listen to hear how he combines all of these values into one cohesive plan!  Advice to young entrepreneurs Nate had two pieces of great advice for young entrepreneurs. The first? Build a team — before you actually need a team. Start investing in those relationships from the start. When you inspire someone to join you — to contribute to your vision — they bring their relationships, experiences, and resources with them. NEVER underestimate the value of a relationship and how it can contribute to your vision. And that brings us to his second piece of advice — make sure you HAVE a vision. Listen in to hear what Nate says about honing your vision — you do not want to miss this conclusion! Connect with Nate Salatin Atlas Navigator Follow Nate on LinkedIn Follow Atlas Navigator on Twitter Connect With Rich Daughtridge www.Daughtridge.com Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Linkedin Follow on Twitter Subscribe on YouTube Subscribe to Relative Profitability on Apple Podcasts, Spotify

Nate Salatin is president and co-founder of Atlas Navigator and has helped us in the past with our performance management systems. He has a wide range of experiences and shares his philosophy around having that wide experience base with us in part one of my interview.  Nate was a missionary kid in Indonesia until his family moved back to the states when he was 12. He worked on his uncle’s organic farm as a teenager. This led to his first business as a kid, selling duck eggs with his brother. They sold to some of the best pastry restaurants in Richmond! He said this first business was where the entrepreneur bug first started for him. Nate enlisted in the marine corp reserves then went to Virginia Military Institute in between deployments. He describes entrepreneurship as “build your own future, write your own story” and a big part of his life. Listen to all of his great stories and advice on this episode! Highlights from this episode How Nate describes entrepreneurship[3:52] How the military helped shape Nate’s vision of leadership and entrepreneurship. [6:10] The most precious commodity in today’s world. [10:43] How Nate shapes his goals. [16:36] The incredible link between development and performance. [24:39] The military and log cabins Nate enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves as a combat engineer. His initial plan was to be a marine corps officer. He learned so much about leadership and what it means to be part of a values-driven culture. Those lessons — grit, camaraderie, and a team mentality — have filtered through the rest of his life and helped him become the strong leader he is today.  When Nate wasn’t on deployment, he fine-tuned his entrepreneurial skills at Cedar Valley Contracting, where he worked on a crew that built log cabins. He worked with Cedar Valley while taking a heavy course load at Virginia Military Academy. He also started a business with his friend that supervised the crew he worked for during this time! Nate said this is the only time he got a 4.0 at VMI because he was able to make a direct correlation between what he was doing on the job and what he was learning in class. Being in a position to read a book or learn new information and plug it directly into day to day operations is still one of his favorite things.  Soul searching after the marine corps led Nate to his core values  Nate said his purpose in life is centered around creating opportunity for others. He loves the sense of growth entrepreneurship brings and has three core values that have basically become his compass. Those values are influence, connection, and freedom, which connect to his three passions. He said they all align and stack on top of each other. Listen to this episode to hear Nate’s three passions, and how they fit in with his core values and the goals he forms from those elements! Atlas Navigator’s big mission Nate described Atlas Navigator as a people management and talent development company. He said the company is a tool that talent development managers, HR managers, and leaders use to define what skillsets are critical at that company. He defined a skillset as anything you can get better at. Atlas Navigator then defines what those things are and helps your employees link to content, mentorship, and coaching — the things that can help them progress. They further make sure the learning matches the person and how they can meet the learner where they are. AND they do it in a way that is scalable and effective from an organizational perspective.  Most companies do NOT get intentional and focused on the front end. They wait to have a developmental conversation when employees are already in trouble. Nate believes that development is an investment today that pays dividends in the future. That is the “infinite game,” especially if you are thinking about it as an entrepreneur leading a business. Listen to hear all about how Atlas Navigator revolutionizes employee development in the workplace — it's truly a fascinating conversation! Resources & People Mentioned Infinite Game by Simon Sinek Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellenceby Daniel Goleman Connect with Nate Salatin Atlas Navigator Follow Nate on LinkedIn Follow Atlas Navigator on Twitter Connect With Rich Daughtridge www.Daughtridge.com Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Linkedin Follow on Twitter Subscribe on YouTube Subscribe to Relative Profitability on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Author Joel Manby is the former CEO of SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment and also former CEO of Herschend Family Entertainment, which manages such brands as the Harlem Globetrotters and Dollywood. He has also spent time in the automobile industry. This second part of our interview takes a look at how things took off for Joel while at the same time, things seemed to fall apart. You will want to listen as Joel gives us great advice on how to balance success in the workplace with success at home! Highlights from this episode One of the keys to finding a work/life balance. [4:00] Three key pieces of advice Joel loves to share on podcasts. [11:38] The 7 words that define love, the verb. [13:16] How you can get Joel’s three-part series on how to lead through crisis. [16:42] Be the role you are in While with Herschend, Joel still traveled quite a bit but was managing to keep it within reason. Being happy with his work helped with his family life as well. He said that while he felt he had a good balance at the time, he was still always “on” for work. What this experience ultimately taught him was to BE the role you are in, in that particular moment. To enjoy the moment you’re in because, in a flash, those moments are gone. In those moments, you are building and depositing into your relationships. When that five o’clock whistle blows, you really are investing in your family and kids.  “There is always an excuse, but be the role you are in — physically — in the moment.” - Joel Manby Hitting rock bottom and learning from there SeaWorld recruited Joel after thirteen years at Herschend. Being the CEO of a publicly-held company had always been on his bucket list. SeaWorld was going through a period of negative publicity due to the Blackfish movie coming out earlier that year. He took the position with them to help turn this negative image around. Within ninety days, he had a ten-point plan and things took off! Some board dynamics changed about halfway through this process and Joel says this is when things started falling apart. He said this is the point the situation became untenable. Joel was under a lot of stress to perform during this time. He was working long days. He was not maintaining his relationships at home nor taking care of himself. He ended up divorcing in 2017 and resigning from SeaWorld the next year. Joel said that for him to lose the identity of his job and his 31-year marriage was definitely the worst part of his life. It was a wake-up call for him to realize he had not “put the love in the right order.” He said he went through a lot of darkness, but there is a happy ending — listen in to learn how he turned it all around! Where the magic is Many companies define their values but what they don’t do very often is define the processes behind them. You have to measure things — they have to be reviewed just like financial statements. People have to be incentivized. Joel says those process points — defining, reinforcing, promoting those values — are where the magic is. That is what he likes to help others do. Love Works challenges you to think differently. The word “love” is often misunderstood in the context of business, When you describe it as “love, the verb” and apply the ideas of patience and kindness, plus the other five principles of the book, you begin seeing results. Joel’s book is a great inspiration for leaders to take these principles into the workplace. Listen to the episode to hear all seven principles and learn where to buy Joel’s book! Resources & People Mentioned Joel’s book: Love Works Blackfish Connect with Joel Manby https://joelmanby.com/ Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Linkedin Connect With Rich Daughtridge www.Daughtridge.com Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Linkedin Follow on Twitter Subscribe on YouTube

Never Leave Love Out of Leadership with Joel Manby, Ep #5  Over a 25-year span, Joel Manby has not only been the CEO of 4 different companies, he also wrote THE book on love as a leadership practice in the workplace. In part one of my interview with Joel, we touch on his roles in the automotive industry, Herschend Family Entertainment, and SeaWorld. You’ll want to hear how all of these roles helped shape the ideals he outlines in his book, Love Works. Joel had a humble upbringing in Battle Creek, Michigan. He attributes athletics with helping to shape his teamwork and leadership skills. His parents’ stress over financial issues also helped form his outlook on money and career. He realized that while money was not everything, he wanted to make sure he never suffered the same kind of financial stress in his adult life that his parents had. Listen in to find out how his early life led to his amazing career and ultimately to the writing of his book! Highlights from this episode Joel’s life purpose. [3:37] One of the most important lessons Joel learned at Harvard. [12:38] Why Joel believes in taking managed risks. [13:02] Joel’s early experiences with balancing family life with work. [17:18] How theme park experiences provided the framework for his book. [19:55] From Saturn to Saab After realizing that professional baseball was not going to work for him, Joel decided to go to Harvard Business School on a deferment program and received the Sloane Fellowship — a real honor at that time. Joel experienced a pivotal moment when at Harvard that helped him with his professional life. He started at Harvard with a feeling like he didn’t belong. He ultimately became the class clown but says his solid thinking, among other things, is what won over time. Gradually, he learned a lesson that will be valuable for many students and young entrepreneurs today. Join us to hear the funny anecdotes Joel shares that tell the story of his business school career! In exchange for his tuition at Harvard, Joel worked for General Motors after graduation, helping them start Saturn Corporation. From there, he moved to Saab, where at 34, he was the youngest general manager GM had ever hired. Joel was able to help turn the brand around and grow their sales by 65% and help each exclusive Saab dealer increase their sales by a whopping 200%! It’s a truly fascinating story you will not want to miss! From autos to theme parks As Joel’s professional success kept growing, so did his responsibilities within the organization. It took a toll on his home life. He knew something had to change. A series of events led to his departure from Saab to a startup, which he relates may not have been the best decision. This experience taught him to count the cost before you move from one wrong situation to another. Make sure you are going TOWARD something and not just AWAY from the situation you are in. During this time, Joel was also on the board at Herschend Family Entertainment and was recruited to be Jack Herschend’s replacement as CEO. Joel had already been feeling what he described as angst — he felt there had to be a better way to lead. He felt certain there was a way he could mix faith with his job but he had not seen any models for that. While on the board at Herschend, he saw there actually WAS a different type of leadership, one driven by caring — or leading with love, as he calls it now. You’ll want to hear the story of this major turning point in his career! From theme parks to book author Joel credits the Herschend Family with being the role model he was looking for. He was able to focus the rest of his career on leadership with love. Love, in this case, is not the emotion but the verb. It’s our behavior — trust and respect and dignity even in the face of frustration.  Joel says it is unbelievable the transformation that can happen when you put as much focus on love as on financials. The notion many corporations have is that love is a feeling — that it’s too soft and won’t work is incorrect. He believes that love as a BEHAVIOR brings out the best in people and in profitability. In fact, when Herschend put the Love Works principles in place, employee engagement levels rose over 45 to 50%! Joel says he has seen both ways of leadership — in fact, he’s lived both — and he knows which one works. Listen and learn some of the fascinating stories in Joel’s life that led to writing his book! Resources & People Mentioned Joel’s book: Love Works Herschend Family Entertainment Connect with Joel Manby https://joelmanby.com/ Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Linkedin Connect With Rich Daughtridge www.Daughtridge.com Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Linkedin Follow on Twitter Subscribe on YouTube Subscribe to Relative Profitability on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

On the last episode of the  Relative Profitability podcast, you got to hear all about how Kyle Houston turned his life around from convicted drug felon to legendary businessman and author. Our interview continues with Kyle this episode — you get to hear about his role as a legendary husband and father and how that role intersects with his roles in the business world. Kyle met his wife just seven short months after being released from prison. He shares how she is the backbone of his entire story — his “Obi-Wan Kenobi.” He also credits his daughters as his number one redeeming quality and relates that while he is “pretty good at all the other stuff,” he is a “great daddy.” Listen to the show to hear all about the balance Kyle struck between his home and work life and to also hear some great advice he has for all you young entrepreneurs out there! Highlights from this episode The story of how Kyle met his wife. [2:23] How failure is an important part on the road to success. [5:15] How to deal with negative emotions in business. [6:13] How to start finding balance between work and life. [8:27] What Kyle’s book is all about. [12:12] Get comfortable with being uncomfortable Kyle tells young entrepreneurs that everything can’t feel comfortable. If you are going to do something big, you have to get really good at being able to handle your mistakes. You will fail way more times than you succeed, but that is just part of the path.  Kyle said it best:  “If you don’t have the stomach for failure, then you shouldn’t have the appetite for success.” Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water Kyle also mentions that many people think there is no value in guilt and shame, but he credits them both — as well as his insecurity — as the primary drivers in his early success. You have negative emotions for a reason. Don’t dwell on them or let them bring you down — let them drive you instead! Listen in to hear more of Kyle’s own story on how these things propelled him forward! What is it you really want? Rarely is it more money Kyle’s advice to the person that is running non stop is that there is more to life than hustling. At some point there has to be balance. He says to take a real look at yourself, discover what it is you really want and get real about THAT. He wants you to figure out what enough is for YOU. Kyle thinks there is nothing more powerful in business than the guy with the chip on his shoulder that’s ready to run and super hungry, but the caveat is that at some point you have to live your life too.  This episode is definitely packed with some great advice, but you also want to  hear all about Kyle’s bestselling book, his next steps in the business world, and what he deeply wishes everyone to find in this life!  Resources & People Mentioned Kyle’s Book: Patchwork Junkie Connect with Guest Name Kyle Houston Connect with Kyle on Facebook Connect with Kyle on Instagram Connect with Kyle on Twitter Connect With Rich Daughtridge www.Daughtridge.com  Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Linkedin Follow on Twitter Subscribe on YouTube Subscribe to Relative Profitability on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Audio Production and Show notes byPODCAST FAST TRACKhttps://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Many entrepreneurs struggle to find that balance between work and home life. Businessman and author Kyle Houston not only found that balance, but overcame incredibly bleak odds to not only be an extremely successful businessman, but also an incredible husband and father. Join us today for part one of a true rags to riches story! Kyle grew up in a small Missouri town of about 4600 people with small-town values, where everyone knew you — the good and the bad. He is a self-described “big fish in a small pond”, and attributes some of his later success to the self-confidence this status and his small-town values instilled in him.  Highlights from this episode Kyle’s early life. [3:39] The first turning point in Kyle’s life. [5:22] Kyle’s first successful business venture and downward spiral into addiction. [6:42] How Kyle came to his purpose while in prison. [11:30] How Kyle faced his fears and turned his life around after prison.[17:50] Where things started to turn Kyle played varsity football throughout his high-school career. He was a key player and never came out of the game. Kyle went into his senior year fully expecting college scouts to be checking him out. Instead, he got mono. This was a devastating blow for Kyle — a complete shift from what he thought his senior year would look like. What followed were several years of struggle to find his place and his ultimate discovery that he had a real propensity for business.  At 24, Kyle built a business from scratch and was extremely successful — until methamphetamines changed the course of his life yet again. Listen to learn how Kyle went from the top of his game to a junkie facing life in prison and back to the top again! How 23 hours a day led to 3 truths Kyle found himself facing life in prison, spending 23 hours a day alone in a cell. He had burned every bridge — even his mother quit talking to him — and only had himself and God. He decided he was going to figure out purpose, which “filled the hole (he) was shoveling meth into with God-shaped stuff”, and ultimately led to his recovery. Eventually, his purpose became clear and he came to know three baseline truths. Tune in to learn the truths that led to Kyle’s new purpose! Kyle’s road to #legendary Kyle left prison after seven years — a man with no college degree, no network and no real knowledge of how much technology had changed. At this point, he was scared to have interaction with “normal” people – those who had never been incarcerated. He had many fears, but his ability to unflinchingly face that fear and his bulletproof belief that he could work through his circumstances helped him go from scared convict to VP of a $2 billion publicly-traded company in 10 years. Keep listening to find out how he faced his fear and achieved all of his goals! Resources & People Mentioned Kyle’s Book: Patchwork Junkie Connect with Guest Name Kyle Houston Connect with Kyle on Facebook Connect with Kyle on Instagram Connect with Kyle on Twitter Connect With Rich Daughtridge www.Daughtridge.com Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Linkedin Follow on Twitter Subscribe on YouTube Subscribe to Relative Profitability on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Life is about more than financial and business success. Said another way, the currency of life is not only measured by a strong Profit & Loss sheet, but it’s also found in the healthy relationships that begin at home. That’s because deep contentment doesn’t come from business success alone, it comes from healthy relationships that add meaning to your life and contribute to the health and success of those you share a relationship with. So the question is, “How do you integrate the success and failure of business and entrepreneurship with the important relationships in your life?” This episode, a recorded conversation with my sister Alyson and my brother Ryan, represents the tip of the iceberg relating to that question. But it’s a GREAT iceberg to start chipping away at. You’ll find their insight — as entrepreneurs and family members of entrepreneurs — so helpful. I encourage you to listen and put to practice what you learn. Highlights from this episode Why I’m doing a round-table conversation with my siblings [1:18] How childhood set us up for entrepreneurship and small business ownership [4:36] Lessons Ryan learned to keep the business in the black while leading his family [9:44] How to switch gears to be all-in at home instead of consumed with business [14:50] A terrible trap: Forgetting the dreams of your spouse [20:24] We must learn to believe, for ourselves and our families [26:27] Effective communication is a key for success in business and relationships [31:00] Final advice and lessons learned [33:04]  Is working harder the real answer to your business problems? Running a small business or side hustle can be a grind. It’s not uncommon for the midnight oil to be burning day after day after day just to keep things afloat. But is that the right solution for the problems you face in your business? Sure, there is no substitute for smart, strategic action on a business level. But many times the strength needed to stick it out doesn’t come from putting your nose to the grindstone. During this conversation, Ryan points out that many times when he’s stressed and feeling the pressure of a business crisis or problem, the thing he needs is not more time at work. He needs the reset and decompression that comes from spending time with his family. That’s where he’s reminded why he’s putting in the hard work. That’s where he connects with his deeper purpose and motivation. Could that be your answer, too? Listen to hear it straight from Ryan’s lips and to get some ideas for how you could move to a healthier place in this area. Which is more important, emotional presence or physical presence? The life of an entrepreneur comes with the responsibility to work hard and hustle. It’s part of the package. That means there are many times when you’re not able to be physically present with your family for the sake of your business's survival. For that reason, it’s all the more important that when you are at home, you’re truly there. Alyson refers to it as “emotional presence,” the ability to connect, plug-in, and invest in the meaningful relationships waiting for you at home. Yes, you’re tired and yes, you need time to unwind. But it may have to happen in smaller increments than you desire so that the relationships that matter so much to you are not starved of the attention that only you can provide. It’s part of the cost of being an entrepreneur, just as much as the hard work and hustle. Listen to hear more of how Alyson and her husband Christopher constantly work to keep this balance. Do you often remember your spouse’s dreams as well as yours? Every entrepreneur has a dream. It’s what drives them to create and iterate the way they do. In the flurry of activity surrounding the implementation of that dream, you can experience casualties that you can not afford. What are they? The dreams of your spouse. Near the end of this conversation, Ryan and Alyson and I dig into the importance of knowing and facilitating your spouse’s dreams, no matter how much energy and focus your entrepreneurial pursuits require of you. This is a key element to maintaining healthy, lasting relationships that are profitable for you as a family. Don’t miss this part of the conversation. Resources & People Mentioned Premier Spine and Sports Medicine - where Alyson’s husband Christopher practices Free Range Cafe - where Ryan’s wife, Rory serves her community amazing food  Bustin Boards - Ryan’s skateboard company Connect with my guests Ryan Daughtridge on Twitter: @bustinRY and on Instagram: @RyanDaughtridge  Alyson Clark on Instagram: @AlysonDClark  Connect With Rich Daughtridge www.Daughtridge.com  Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Linkedin Follow on Twitter Subscribe on YouTube Subscribe to Relative Profitability on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Audio Production and Show notes byPODCAST FAST TRACKhttps://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Few people these days can claim to have found BOTH personal contentment and professional success. Sadly, they seem to be opposites on a spectrum where both cannot be experienced at the same time. It sounds like a panacea, but we all want it just the same. My guest on this episode has walked down both ends of that continuum. He’s come through some hard situations that would break many people. But through it all, he’s found a way to set his compass daily and fuel a life that matters. Danny Farrar is the CEO of Soldier Fit, a fitness program birthed out of his experiences in life and as a member of the U.S. military. It focuses on providing a family atmosphere where each “troop” helps push every member to reach his or her personal goals. In this conversation, you’ll hear Danny describe the difficult circumstances of his early life, how the military became his first turning-point, and how a terrible transition into civilian life opened the door to the opportunity that became Soldier Fit. Pay close attention to Danny’s advice about creating your own “Daily Defense” routine. It’s the type of thing I want these episodes to reveal, so take good notes and put his advice to work. Highlights from this episode Adoption, molestation, and struggling through high school [2:49] Military service and a poor transition into civilian life [3:30] Beginning the Soldier Fit training program [6:01] Using adversity to clarify your purpose and how you will get there [8:50] Balancing loyalty to your team with the harsh reality of your P&L [11:56] Advice for those grinding it out daily regarding maintenance of personal priorities [14:06] Three lessons from a recent Facebook post Danny authored [20:57] An inspiring example of why you can’t let your history shape your future We all experience difficult circumstances in life. There’s no getting around that fact. But some people seem to push through them and overcome in spite of the setback. Danny is one of those people. He was an adopted child who struggled to find himself. Pile on top of that the fact that he was molested by family members, became a chronic over-eater and struggled academically in high school, and you can see that he was on a very destructive path that many of us would struggle to change. But that was just the beginning of his struggles. He joined the military and learned a number of valuable skills, but transitioned out of the military poorly. He was evicted, wound up homeless, and attempted suicide. After being locked up in the psych ward for treatment, he developed a deep desire to change his life.  Soldier Fit is one of the outgrowths of that struggle. But more importantly for this podcast are the lessons Danny learned regarding healthy relationships and how to maintain happiness in spite of circumstances. There are three types of people: quitters, campers, and climbers Danny tells the story of how he learned that he had a choice in life, a choice to quit, to settle for less than he was capable of, or to keep climbing to become a better version of himself. He characterizes these choices as becoming a quitter, a camper, or a climber. The interesting thing though is that he tells the story in the context of a failed relationship. His first marriage ended in divorce and Danny feels that the lack of similar ambition is what led to its demise — and in his mind, there was nobody to blame for that incongruence but himself. Will you be a quitter, a camper, or a climber? Danny’s story can help you see how each of them manifest themselves and his example of becoming a climber can help you choose a better path for yourself. Listen and let Danny’s story encourage you to become more, so that you can build relationships that matter.  Your “Daily Defense” is vital for your health as an entrepreneur  One of the most intriguing things to me is that every entrepreneur who is successful in both life and business does so intentionally. It NEVER happens by accident. I want to hear those stories and Danny shares a great one on this episode. He says that every entrepreneur — or every person for that matter — needs to develop what he calls a “Daily Defense.” It’s an intentional focus on making deposits into four key areas of life. Those four areas are Relational Health, Financial Health, Mental Health, and Physical Health. He points out that your focus on these four areas should be ongoing but flexible. It’s not required that you invest the same amount of attention in each one every day, but that something is done for each, every day. He says, “If you allocate to those every day, you’ll find that it works out.” Listen to hear more ways Danny has implemented this mindset into his daily life and use it as fuel to build a Daily Defense of your own that works for you. Connect with Danny Farrar Soldier Fit - where Danny leads as CEO The Reboot Challenge from Soldier Fit Connect With Rich Daughtridge https://WareHouseCinemas.com  https://HighRockStudios.com Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Linkedin Follow on Twitter Subscribe on YouTube Subscribe to Relative Profitability on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Audio Production and Show notes byPODCAST FAST TRACKhttps://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Are you dissatisfied with where your entrepreneurial or business path is taking you? Do you often hear the quiet voice of your own soul saying, “Isn’t there more than this?” If so, you may be the kind of person who I’ve been wanting to connect with. My name is Rich Daughtridge. I’ve been an entrepreneur for a long time and grew up in a home where my parents were always involved in some sort of side-hustle. I’ve learned from both pain and success that life is too short to waste it chasing things that don’t matter. For a long time I’ve been wanting to explore that truth with the help of other, smart, successful entrepreneurs and this podcast — Relative Profitability — is the realization of that desire. Welcome!  Highlights from this episode The reasons behind this podcast - What really matters at the end of the road? [0:57] Lessons growing up, university, and playing professional soccer [2:01] Connect With Rich Daughtridge www.Daughtridge.com  Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Linkedin Follow on Twitter Subscribe on YouTube Audio Production and Show notes byPODCAST FAST TRACKhttps://www.podcastfasttrack.com