Working together is how we get things done. And it’s easy…until people get involved! That’s why building and growing teams is one of the most valuable skills in business today. On the Clarity Advisors Show, we’ll explore timely ideas and timeless principles, hard-earned wisdom and current trends, what works – and what doesn’t – in today’s environment.
Podcast hosts
- Await1474
@Await1474
© 2023 The Clarity Advisors Show
The Clarity Advisors Show
Reviews
Sharpcee
5 out of 5 stars
Great easy listen
Great topics with business leaders from varying industries. This has quickly become one of my favorite podcasts.
Michelle from Michigan
5 out of 5 stars
Great variety and interesting
I have enjoyed each show and like how Ken makes his guests the focus of The Clarity Advisors Show. Each episode is interesting and contains leadership wisdom. I like the variety of his guests, different fields, different places in their careers. Looking forward to future episodes!
akonsoer
5 out of 5 stars
Fabulous content!
Ken has a unique ability to ask the perfect questions that allow business leaders to open up in a relatable and helpful way. Very inspiring!
Little Baloo
5 out of 5 stars
10/10 would recommend.
Ken Trupke surrounds himself every week with guests who share their experiences and techniques becoming successful in key industries and services. Each episode is unique; but, the content is consistently FIRE!
Suzlynn1
5 out of 5 stars
Excellent Show!
I look forward to each new episode. Ken is masterful in bringing out the realness of his guests. So not only are you learning how to build a great team based on wins, but we are given the important wisdom gained through failures too. I especially love hearing what these great leaders are reading or listening to as they continue to grow themselves! Highly recommend.
The app fairy
5 out of 5 stars
Fantastic podcast!
Ken Trupke does a fantastic job of helping to break down business essentials with top leaders and mentors. This is a fantastic podcast for those who are looking how to improve their leadership or don’t know where to start out as a new leader! The Clarity Advisors show definitely brings clarity to what can seem like a daunting task of leading.
Podcast information
- Amount of episodes
- 33
- Subscribers
- 0
- Verified
- Yes
- Website
- Explicit content
- No
- Episode type
- episodic
- Podcast link
- https://podvine.com/link/..
- Last upload date
- March 21, 2023
- Last fetch date
- March 21, 2023 5:30 AM
- Upload range
- WEEKLY
- Author
- Ken Trupke
- Copyright
- © 2023 The Clarity Advisors Show
susbcribers
- Ken Trupke -- Six characteristics of a winning teamEvery team is different, but there are some traits that winning teams have in common. In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke shares his list of the six most important characteristics of a winning team. Timestamps (00:43): No. 1 – Define clear goals. (02:32): No. 2 – Have clear roles and responsibilities. (03:59): No. 3 – Do your job first. (06:39): No. 4 – Keep growing and getting better. (08:02): No. 5 – Embrace diversity. (11:23): No. 6 – Develop high trust. (13:41): Summary. Episode Quotes “If you want your team to be aligned and engaged with the mission, you've got to be clear about what that is.” “You can't steer a parked car. Get moving. Pick a goal, be clear about it, communicate it, get your team aligned and engaged around that goal, and then start going.” “People want to win. So, tell them what winning looks like.” "I'm all for people being good teammates and working with each other and helping each other and supporting each other. But please do your job first.” “We're here in business to deliver value, either products or services or a combination of the two, to our customers. And what we're doing today for them is not going to be what they need in the future.” “The skills we have today are deteriorating every day … If we don't keep replenishing and growing ourselves as individuals – and our team as a whole – we aren't going to be able to keep up with customers.” “When I say diversity, I mean diversity in skills, experience, and behavior styles.” “We don't necessarily want well-rounded people who try to be all the things we want.” “Winning teams have high levels of trust. They care about each other, and they give each other the benefit of the doubt.” “Where you don't have high trust, you tend to have high drama.” Follow/Connect with Ken Trupke ken@clarityadvisors.io www.clarityadvisors.io Ken Trupke on LinkedIn0 comments0
- Ben Wolf -- How Fractional Leadership can improve your businessHas your business grown to the point where it needs high-level executive expertise, but you aren’t big enough that you can afford to hire the right person full time? A “fractional leader” might be a great solution. Today’s guest, Ben Wolf, has literally written the book on the concept. And on this edition of The Clarity Advisors Show, Ben and host Ken Trupke discuss the growing trend of fractional leadership and how it can help small and mid-sized businesses get to the next level. Timestamps (00:51): What is fractional leadership? (03:33): What kind of company can use a fractional leader? (06:10): Ben’s background. (09:08): Creating a national community of fractional leaders. (12:57): Challenges of fractional leadership. (17:14): Benefits of an outsider’s perspective. (18:51): Setting priorities. (23:48): The fractional leadership end game. (28:55): Ben’s recommended reading. (31:12): Connecting with Ben. Episode Quotes “In a typical executive’s role, especially at a smaller mid-size company, they're probably spending on average about 20 percent of their time on truly executive-level functions. When a fractional executive comes in, what they're doing is essentially taking that 20 percent strategic and executive part and only filling that role.” (Ben) “That's a nice solution to what I call the 'Entrepreneurial Catch-22.' You got big enough to where you need experienced talent, but you can't afford it full-time until you have had the benefit of that person's experience building the company.” (Ben) “We find ourselves focusing 80 to 90 percent on people issues.” (Ben) “When we come in as a COO, we're taking over from someone else who either was or by absence wasn't doing that job. Now we can more effectively drive both strategy and execution for the entire business and make sure everyone’s rowing in the right direction.” “If we can't talk about difficult topics and say the hard things, then our clients are not going to be well-served. They're not going to be able to achieve the goals they so desperately want to achieve.” “People typically are becoming fractional executives because they love being fractional executives. It’s not because they couldn't get a full-time job. They want the variety of doing multiple businesses, learning about multiple companies, learning new skills, making massive change.” Recommended Listening and Reading Win Win Podcast hosted by Ben Wolf Fractional Leadership: Landing Executive Talent You Thought Was Out of Reach by Ben Wolf Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work and in Life One Conversation at a Time by Susan Scott Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy Follow/Connect with Ben Wolf WolfsEdgeIntegrators.com FractionalLeadership.io Ben Wolf on LinkedIn0 comments0
- The Clarity Advisors Show Mar 7 · 32m Bo Short -- Leadership, business, and navigating the changing marketplaceOne of the ways to get better as a leader is to listen to other leaders. Today’s guest, Bo Short, is a speaker and author with more than three decades of experience leading companies and speaking to audiences around the globe about leadership, business, and navigating the ever-changing marketplace. In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Bo shares some of his wisdom and insights with host Ken Trupke. Timestamps (01:41): Does Bo's message change in other countries? (04:15): Five attributes of leadership. (07:28): Practice is failing. (08:50): Bo’s background. (13:15): Mistakes made and lessons learned. (19:33): Who does Bo serve? (21:21): What problem does Bo solve? (24:31): Appeasing vs. leading. (26:40): Recommended reading. (31:15): How to contact Bo. Episode Quotes “I don't coach. I think it's so much deeper than that. It's about mentoring somebody on a path to take them from where they are to where they should be and where they want to be.” (Bo) “People may dream in different languages, or they have different accents or even different cultures, but the heartbeat of the person is the same.” (Bo) “Every man and woman that I interviewed said the five same words: vision, courage, perseverance, responsibility, and character.” (Bo) “Courage is not something you find. Courage is something that finds you and it finds you because you're prepared for it.” (Bo) “Confidence is born through repetition, and repetition at its core is practice. And the art of practice is the art of failing.” (Bo) “If you have to be the God, you'll never be the guy. If you're willing to shine that spotlight on other people and uplift them and recognize them and make them the guy, you'll always be the guy.” (Bo) “Most problems are not product related. Most problems are people related. One of the things I tell executives all the time is you’ve got to stop appeasing people and start leading people.” Bo Short’s Recommended Reading Living to Win: The Five Enduring Principles of Success by Bo Short The Foundation of Leadership: Enduring Principles to Govern Our Lives by Bo Short The Arc of Ambition: Defining the Leadership Journey by James Champy Developing the Leader Within You 2.0 by John C. Maxwell Developing the Leaders Around You by John C. Maxwell Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman Follow/Connect with Bo Short info@BoShort.org BoShort.org Bo Short on LinkedIn Bo Short on Facebook Bo Short on Twitter0 comments0
- Kristi Nowrouzi - Building a team and increasing production without burning outWhen you start a business, it’s usually because you see a need in the market that’s not being met, or you think you can do something better than it’s currently being done. But sometimes you just need a change and want to do your own thing. That was the case with today’s guest. Kristi Nowrouzi is the Regional Manager of G7 Networking and a top-producing loan officer with Geneva Financial. She’s also a speaker, author, and podcaster. On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Kristi shares with host Ken Trupke how she’s been able to build a team and grow sales production – and do everything else she does – without burning out. They also discuss using the DiSC Model to find the right team members, as well as Kristi's experience introducing Lou Holtz at a conference of business leaders. Timestamps (01:14): Introduction to Kristi and her background. (03:51): Moving to Central Florida from Sarasota. (06:10): How Kristi built her team. (09:59): Benefits of using the DiSC Model. (13:05): Tips for finding the right people. (19:57): Kristi’s podcast and other projects. (21:56): Avoiding burnout. (24:40): Advice for young leaders. (28:54): Introducing Lou Holtz. (32:15): Connecting with Kristi. Episode Quotes “I don't know that anybody's necessarily a born leader. I think we can choose it and step into our greatness.” (Kristi) “I think the hardest step from being a solepreneur to becoming a team leader is putting that initial trust in other people.” (Kristi) “We sometimes have a tendency of hiring or bringing people onto our team who are too much like us.” (Kristi) “A lot of times we'll see differences in people and feel like we've got to be at arm’s length. I actually want to pull them in closer because of those differences.” (Kristi) “Can I replace somebody on my team? Yes, but I can't replace that person.” (Kristi) “Understanding our emotional intelligence is probably the best thing a leader can know.” (Kristi) Kristi Nowrouzi’s Recommended Reading and Listening First Home: Where to Start and How to Win by Kristi Nowrouzi Credit Coaching by Kristi podcast Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box by The Arbinger Institute Hoopla app Follow/Connect with Kristi Nowrouzi questions@creditkristi.com CreditKristi.com G7 Networking Credit Kristi YouTube channel Kristi Nowrouzi on LinkedIn Kristi Nowrouzi on Facebook Kristi Nowrouzi on Instagram0 comments0
- Ken Trupke -- Drawing the line between management and micromanagementAs a leader, one of the worst things you can be accused of is being a “micro-manager”. When you’re responsible for getting things done, where do you draw the line between managing and micro-managing? In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke explains the importance of defining a “what” and a “how” when leading members of your team. It’s the leader’s responsibility and role to define the “what,” while the person assigned the task is responsible for “how” it gets done. Micro-management is when you tell people what you want and how you want it done. Episode Highlights Specifying what you want done is not micromanaging. Micromanaging is when you start telling people how to do things. Most people who accuse leaders of micromanaging are pushing back against being held accountable. Accountability can be results-based or activity-based. Timestamps (00:19): Micromanaging vs. managing. (01:22): Defining the “what” and the “how.” (03:08): Business example of micromanaging. (04:04): Difference between micromanaging and accountability. (05:54): Results-based and activity-based accountability. (13:29): Communication is key. Episode Quotes “Teammates can sometimes be quick to accuse you of being a micro-manager because it tends to be a “get out of jail free” card. If you get accused of being a micromanager, you'll typically back off.” As a leader, unless you're telling them exactly how, you're not micro-managing; you're just managing. It’s okay to be very specific about the ‘what’.” “What people push back on more than micro-management is accountability.” “Demand that your team either hit their marks and do what they said they would do or tell you ahead of time so we can work together to fix it.” “The main reason people don't want to raise their hand and say, ‘I need some help,’ is they don't trust their leader.” Follow/Connect with Ken Trupke ken@clarityadvisors.io www.clarityadvisors.io Ken Trupke on LinkedIn0 comments0
- Michelle Voss -- Inheriting a team vs. building one from scratchAs a leader, sometimes you’re faced with building a team from scratch, while other times you inherit an existing team. Today’s guest has experience with both. Michelle Voss has spent nearly three decades in the logistics industry and is currently the Director of Special Products for L&M Transportation Services in Jacksonville, Florida. In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Michelle and host Ken Trupke discuss hiring and training practices, along with the importance of focusing on what you’re good at while still knowing the basics of everyone’s job. They also talk about bridging the gap in generational work attitudes and how you can’t be a leader without being a servant. Timestamps (01:29): Overview of Michelle’s career. (02:58): Making her first hire. (04:28): Training through shadowing. (06:54): Challenges with hiring. (12:51): Logistics and the nursery business. (16:22): Inheriting a team vs. building one. (17:56): Learning from mistakes. (21:28): Focusing on what you’re good at. (23:39): The value of cross training. (24:46): Generational differences. (26:47): Advice for aspiring leaders. Episode Quotes “One of the challenges I've had over the years is trying to discern the difference between the person you interview and the person who shows up to work.” (Michelle) “There's such a difference between buy-in and being aligned.” (Michelle) “My end goal in building any team is if the phone rings in our office, anybody can pick it up. Anybody can help with that problem.” (Michelle) “I think the younger generations – the newer people in the workforce – are bringing some healthier boundaries and drawing into the light some things that didn't really work that well, but nobody was going to say it out loud.” (Ken) “I don't ask anybody who works for me to do something that I wouldn't be willing to do myself. And no job is too insignificant for a leader to do it.” (Michelle) “You can't be a leader and not be a servant.” (Ken) Michelle Voss’ Recommended Reading Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard, by Chip and Dan Heath Beyond Belief: Awaken Potential, Focus Leadership, by John Grinnell Follow/Connect with Michelle Voss Michelle.Voss@LMTS.com Michelle Voss on LinkedIn0 comments0
- Russ Climie -- An outsider’s view of the best and worst companiesIf you could spend a few hours with hundreds of different teams, you’d be able to see what the best ones are doing. Today’s guest, Russ Climie, has seen the good, the bad, and the ugly during his nearly 20 years as a professional business photographer. In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Russ shares his insights and observations with host Ken Trupke. Episode highlights Professional photographs are more important than ever in the digital world. Making people comfortable is key to getting a good photo. Three indicators of a good work culture: Tenure, people inviting their friends to work there, and having someone to take care of team members’ needs. Timestamps (00:55): Overview of Russ’ business (01:45): Importance of making people feel comfortable. (04:55): Why people don’t like having their photo taken. (08:35): First indicator of a strong culture – Have people been there a long time? (09:40): Indicator 2 – Are people inviting their friends to work there? (10:36): Indicator 3 – Is there a person or people whose job is to support the internal team? (13:08): Bad things Russ has observed. (16:32): Companies that have all three indicators. (18:46): How Russ applies what he’s observed to his own team. (20:48): How Russ takes care of his teammates. (22:48): Impact of the pandemic on the photography industry. (24:49) What Russ is reading and listening to. (26:42) How to contact Russ. Episode Quotes “In my opinion, the photo is the new handshake. People are looking at your profile online before they may be ever meet you in person.” “The world of team building is not simple. Or I should say it's simple, but it's not easy.” “How long have people been there? Miles on the car don’t necessarily indicate that it's the best car to own, but it does show this could be a good place to work.” “What’s very indicative of a great culture is if you want your friends to come work there with you.” “Our first customers – our most important customers – are our team.” “I can tell the company culture by looking at the fridges of different places I go.” “At the end of the day, that's Business 101. It's all about relationships.” Russ Climie’s Recommended Reading and Listening The Magic of Thinking Big, by David J. Schwartz Akimbo: A Podcast from Seth Godin The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe Follow/Connect with Russ Climie www.tiberiusimages.com Russell Climie on LinkedIn0 comments0
- Jason Dodge -- How a leader's role evolves as the team growsAs you grow your team, you’re likely to find your role changing as you offload some of your tasks. Today’s guest, Jason Dodge, started his search engine optimization (SEO) business, BlackTruck Media + Marketing, 14 years ago and his role continues to evolve as his company grows and the market changes. In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Jason explains to host Ken Trupke exactly what search engine optimization is and shares what he’s learned while building a team in a fast-paced, ever-changing industry. Episode Highlights What search engine optimization is, how the industry is evolving, and the difference between SEO companies. The evolution of a leader’s role as the team grows. Integrating interns and contractors into the team. Timestamps (01:06): How Jason got into the SEO field. (02:04): Defining search engine optimization. (03:00): Differences between organic and paid search. (03:44): How Jason’s role has evolved as BlackTruck has grown. (08:44): Adding the first team member after five years in business. (09:38): Next steps in growth. (11:02): The value of interns. (12:45): Evolving while growing. (14:58): Generalists vs. specialists. (16:48): Using contractors for back-office roles. (19:28): Lessons learned over 14 years. (23:03): Difference in SEO companies. (26:06): Origin of “Black Truck Media” name. (26:42): What Jason’s reading. (28:37): Ways to connect with Jason. Episode Quotes “I’m a firm believer that interns need to be paid. If they're getting value out of it and you are getting value out of it, there needs to be an exchange there.” (Jason) “One thing that you have to understand, if you are scaling responsibly, is when you need to jump in and be on the dance floor and when you need to get out.” (Jason) “It really comes down to three to four kinds of pillars. That’s transparency and honesty – you can lump those two together – and empathy and advocacy. Those are the things that really stand out to me.” (Jason) “Lead with empathy and consider the fact that your team has a life outside of work. As a business owner or entrepreneur, keep in mind that nobody is going to be as passionate about your business as you are.” (Jason) “I'm upfront with everyone in the interview process that I'm not a mind reader. You have to be an advocate for yourself, for the business, and for your client. You have to be an advocate for the things that you want.” (Jason) Jason Dodge’s Recommended Reading SYSTEMology, by David Jenyns Scaling Up, by Verne Harnish What the Heck Is EOS? by Gino Wickman Traction, by Gino Wickman Follow/Connect with Jason Dodge jason@blacktruckmedia.com blacktruckmedia.com Jason Dodge on Twitter Jason Dodge on LinkedIn0 comments0
- The Clarity Advisors Show Jan 24 · 15m Ken Trupke -- How your team can benefit from a daily huddleAs we start the new year, we’re all looking to grow our teams and build our cultures. What if there was a way you could do this by investing just 10 minutes of your company’s workday? In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke explains how the daily huddle brings people together, gets them on the same page, and helps increase productivity in measurable ways. Episode Highlights A daily huddle helps both the workplace culture and productivity. The huddle is especially valuable with more team members working remotely. Start with good news and appreciation before focusing on business. The ideal length is about 10 minutes. Start at an unusual time (like 8:28 or 9:17) so people remember it. Timestamps (00:19): What is a daily huddle? (02:12): The business reason and the people reason for the huddle. (03:04): Structuring the huddle. (03:49): Starting with good news and appreciation. (08:21): Getting down to business. (10:41): Soliciting ideas from the team. (11:21): Asking for help and solving problems. (12:53): Determining the ideal time and length for the huddle. (13:44): Summarizing the value of the daily huddle. Episode Quotes “In a remote world, where more roles are becoming remote or people are working remotely more days of the week, it's powerful to bring people together.” “I've heard that children spell love T-I-M-E because it's not truly that quality time that they crave, but the quantity of time they just want to be with their parents.” “If you don't have the things in place to do the business things, I still encourage you to do it if only for the social reasons.” “The bigger value here isn't making sure we're on task and connecting business processes nearly as much as we're connecting as people.” Follow/Connect with Ken Trupke ken@clarityadvisors.io www.clarityadvisors.io Ken Trupke on LinkedIn0 comments0
- Harry Spaight -- Stepping out on your own after a successful careerHave you had a successful career and then considered stepping away to do your own thing -- maybe consult, speak, or write a book? Today’s guest, Harry Spaight, is a former missionary who took what he learned from that field and successfully applied it to sales. Now he’s helping people step out of traditional corporate roles and promote their new ventures. In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Harry talks with host Ken Trupke about his challenges and success in sales, how his time as a missionary helped him develop a servant mindset, and how attending a Mary Kay conference with his wife was a huge turning point. They also discuss Harry’s book, “Selling With Dignity.” Timestamps (01:09): The transition from sales to coaching. (02:40): “One-to-many” vs. “one-to-one.” (05:17): Harry’s background as a missionary. (08:16): Challenges in sales leadership. (13:19): Learning to lead on the fly. (14:16): Finding inspiration at a Mary Kay conference. (20:10): The importance of a servant mindset. (24:46): Writing the book, “Selling with Dignity.” Episode Quotes “I like to control my own destiny.” (Harry) “I think the biggest thing is having a servant mindset.” (Harry) “People are still people. People still like the pat on the back. I don't think that is ever going to go away.” (Harry) “If you start treating people all the same, you're going to have problems.” (Harry) Harry Spaight’s Recommended Reading and Listening Selling With Dignity, by Harry Spaight Sales Made Easy Podcast, with Harry Spaight The Ultimate Sales Letter, by Dan. S. Kennedy No B.S. Direct Marketing, by Dan S. Kennedy Social Selling: Techniques to Influence Buyers and Changemakers, by Tim Hughes Follow/Connect with Harry Spaight harry@sellingwithdignity.com SellingWithDignity.com Harry Spaight on LinkedIn Harry Spaight on Twitter Harry Spaight on Facebook Harry Spaight on Instagram0 comments0
- Ken Trupke -- Improving communication with DISCCommunication is critical in all aspects of life, but it also can be one of the biggest challenges. There are times we think we’re communicating when we actually aren’t. The message is being sent, but it’s not being received. Improving communication leads to better results and better relationships, whether at home or in the workplace. In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke discusses DISC, which is an assessment tool that helps identify behavior types so you can determine the best way to communicate with someone. Knowing how you tend to behave and how you tend to communicate is very helpful as a starting point for effective communication, and that’s what DISC does. Episode Highlights What is DISC? What are the four personality types? How can DISC help improve communication? Timestamps (00:19): The importance and challenges of communication. (01:26): Explaining DISC. (03:27): Faster-paced personalities are in top half of the circle. (04:18): Slower-paced personalities are in the bottom half of the circle. (06:03): Each of the letters: D-I-S-C. (10:15): Associating the letters with animals. (11:19): Assessing yourself. (19:26): Identify and adapt. (21:52): Understand we’re different. (23:27): Achieving true diversity. Episode Quotes “Transmitting messages and information doesn't make any difference if it's not received.” “With all these things in DISC, there's no good and bad, there's no right or wrong. There are only differences.” “The key is to dial into these differences so that you can harness them to be more effective in communication.” “It's so important to be able to understand all four types so you can understand yourself and then know how to work with other people.” “Remember not everyone’s like you and, and if you want to be effective, you need to understand who they are.” “It's not about you. It's about you using this tool to help communicate effectively with your team.” More About DISC What is DISC? Take an online DISC test Follow/Connect with Ken Trupke ken@clarityadvisors.io www.clarityadvisors.io Ken Trupke on LinkedIn0 comments0
- Joe Pici -- Aligning and engaging your team for success in 2023Joe Pici was the very first guest on The Clarity Advisors Show, and he returns for the first episode of 2023. Joe is a master sales trainer and coach who teaches his clients how to book more appointments and close more business. In this episode, Joe talks with host Ken Trupke about his “Strategic Momentum Intensive” coaching with its three-pronged approach to helping businesses and teams focus on what they need to do to succeed in the upcoming year. Episode Highlights Joe’s “Strategic Momentum Intensive” coaching sessions. The importance of a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis. Setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Based) goals and establishing milestones on the road to success. Timestamps (01:11): What is “Strategic Momentum Intensive” coaching? (01:56): Start with a “reverse SWOT” analysis. (09:29): Establish SMART, quantifiable goals. (13:19): The importance of milestones. (15:00): Make sure everybody’s goals are aligned. (20:40): Client success stories. (27:41): Get a complimentary cup of Joe. Episode Quotes “Good salespeople sell. Great salespeople sell profit margin.” (Joe) “You don't compromise goals. If you're going to compromise goals, don't set them.” (Joe) “The secret to 2023 is hidden in the areas you’ve got to get better at, and your opportunities.” (Joe) “When you up your game, you may work more.” (Joe) Recommended Listening The Sales Edge Podcast with Joe Pici The Clarity Advisors Show – Episode 1 with guest Joe Pici Follow/Connect with Joe Pici Phone: 407-947-2950 Text “Sales Edge” to 55678 joe@piciandpici.com Joe Pici on LinkedIn piciandpici.com sellmorevirtually.com0 comments0
- Ken Trupke -- What advice would you give your 20-something self?As we close out 2022 and look ahead to 2023, it’s a good time to reflect on the lessons we’ve learned – both in the last year and throughout our lives. What advice would you – at your current age – give your 20-something self? On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke shares five things he’s learned over the years that have helped him grow both personally and professionally. Of course, there are many more, but these are five that stand out and can hopefully help you in business and life. Timestamps: (00:19): What advice would you give your 20-something self? (01:11): No. 1 – Make friends. (05:05): No. 2 – Stick with something. (11:20): No. 3 – Do more than what’s expected. (12:56): No. 4 – Find work meaningful to you. (18:34): No. 5 – Enjoy the journey. (22:18): What are your top five? Episode Quotes: “Every opportunity comes from other people. So, if you want more opportunities, you need to know more people.” “There's so much to learn. We're never really done. No one's ever the master, especially when it comes to things with people.” “I think it's important to stick with something. It also just builds grit.” “Doing something day by day is how you build success over the long term. It’s not as fun as watching a YouTube video and becoming a millionaire overnight, but it's much more the reality and it's a much more controllable, achievable and proven process.” “If you put in more than as expected consistently, and you are going above and beyond consistently, it's going to get noticed.” “We tend to identify ourselves by the work we do, so make sure it's work you feel good about.” Follow/Connect with Ken Trupke: ken@clarityadvisors.io www.clarityadvisors.io Ken Trupke on LinkedIn0 comments0
- Dr. Timothy M. Williams Sr. -- Leading teams and shaping cultureLeading teams and shaping the culture in large corporations can be very different than in smaller and medium-sized businesses. But there are principles and practices that work regardless of company size. Today’s guest, Dr. Timothy M. Williams Sr., is a transformation expert. He spent nearly four decades in various roles with such corporate giants as Procter & Gamble and Kodak before starting his own consulting firm, Org-Transformation Group. On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Dr. Tim talks with host Ken Trupke about his background, his progression from engineering to manufacturing to human resources, and learning to work in a large corporate culture. Dr. Tim also discusses leadership as an attitude, how leadership has changed over the past 40 years, and how to change your company’s leadership culture. Episode Highlights: Building trust and credibility. Creating the attitude of leadership. Changing leadership culture. Timestamps: [01:15] The Org-Transformation Group. [03:30] A bit about Dr. Williams. [07:50] An engineer with a team. [10:26] Learning to work in a corporate culture. [14:14] Engineering to manufacturing to HR. [20:05] Building trust and credibility. [25:45] The attitude of leadership. [27:33] What is different today? [30:26] Dr. Williams’ recommended content. Episode Quotes: “Humility is respecting the other person.” (Dr. Williams) “People are people.” (Dr. Williams) “Stop trying to work on other people and work on yourself.” (Dr. Williams) Dr. Williams’ Recommended Reading and Listening: Never Split The Difference, by Chris Voss Manipulation, by Michael Leary Follow/Connect with Dr. Williams: orgtransformgrp@gmail.com orgtransformgroup.com Dr. Timothy M. Williams Sr. on LinkedIn0 comments0
- The Clarity Advisors Show Dec 13 · 32m Matt Baxter -- Building teams as a young leaderWorking together is how we get things done. If you’re starting a business, you might be on your own for a while, but eventually you’ll have to assemble a team. That’s the path followed by today’s guest, Matt Baxter. He’s the CEO of Wedge, an online HR video software company. Matt started Wedge in 2015 by himself and quickly started building a team. In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Matt talks with host Ken Trupke about growing his team, hiring without looking at resumes, and the challenges of being a younger leader. Episode Highlights How to grow teams with great talent. Being a successful younger leader. How to hire members without looking at a resume. Timestamps [00:58] About Wedge. [01:54] Matt’s business background. [05:07] Growing his team. [07:17] Hiring team members. [09:21] Matt’s hiring process. [14:54] The name “Wedge”. [15:57] Lessons learned. [21:21] Raising money and finding board members. [24:12] Being a younger leader. [28:22] Matt’s recommended content. Episode Quotes “Some of the greatest employees end up being surprises.” (Matt) “Form a personal advisory board, some people who can hold you accountable for who you are.” (Matt) Matt’s Recommended Reading and Listening Malcolm Gladwell The Bible Follow/Connect with Matt Baxter matt@wedgehr.com WedgeHR.com Matt Baxter LinkedIn The Matt Baxter Show podcast0 comments0
- Joshua Washington -- Building high-performing teams through communicationTeams are made up of individuals, and good leaders understand one size does not fit all. Today’s guest, Joshua Washington, is the owner of Lee Malveaux, a business consulting firm helping companies attract, retain, grow, and support their people. On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Joshua and host Ken Trupke talk about communication as the root of business growth and Joshua breaks down the acronym MICRO in micro-conversations. They also discuss how to measure the three major intrinsic motivators and how to improve performance and relationships to push your business forward. Episode Highlights How to build a culture of effective communication. How to ensure that individuals are treated as individuals. How to improve relationships and performance simultaneously. Timestamps [01:01] Micro-conversations. [02:13] A bit about Joshua. [03:24] Honoring Lee Malveaux. [04:46] Who does he serve and what does he do? [08:22] Teaching physicians bedside manners. [11:32] M.I.C.R.O. [14:47] Emotions. [15:53] What works, and what doesn’t? [18:20] How to ensure that team members are treated as individuals. [20:14] How to measure intrinsic motivators. [22:21] Joshua’s recommended content. Episode Quotes “What really drives performance and culture within the organization are all the conversations that take place.” (Joshua) “When emotion goes up, intelligence goes down.” (Joshua) Joshua’s Recommended Reading and Listening So Good They Can’t Ignore You, by Cal Newport Nonviolent Communication, by Dr. Marshall Rosenberg Follow/Connect with Joshua Washington 239-834-3875 (cell) joshua@leemalveaux.com LeeMalveaux.com Joshua Washington LinkedIn0 comments0
- James Mayhew -- Culture, performance, and communicationEach team has its own distinct culture – whether by design or not. And culture is important because it signals what is desired and what behavior is unacceptable. Today’s guest is America’s Chief Culture Officer, James Mayhew. James is the host of the Lead Thru Values podcast, and he trains and coaches teams on how to improve their culture to get better results. In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, James and host Ken Trupke discuss how culture and performance are inseparable aspects of business success. James talks about the role of a Chief Culture Officer, and how he helps small and medium-sized businesses design and define their culture to accelerate performance. Episode Highlights How to build a powerful business culture. Why having conversations is vital to building culture. The importance of having a robust hiring process. Timestamps [01:19] Who does James help? [02:11] The Chief Culture Officer. [06:12] How a Culture Officer role differs from an HR role. [09:15] Lessons learned from making mistakes. [13:20] Things they did well. [18:12] What makes culture so important? [20:28] Overcoming big challenges. [24:47] James’ recommended content. Episode Quotes “We’re not shooting for perfection, but we are shooting for excellence.” (James) “We can’t correct what we don’t know.” (James) “Culture is performance. Performance is culture.” (James) “Do not cut that hiring process in any way.” (James) Recommended Reading and Listening Never Split The Difference, by Chris Voss The Truth About Getting The Best From People, by Martha Finney The GaryVee Audio Experience Follow/Connect with James Mayhew 319-929-2604 (cell) Lead Thru Values podcast JamesMayhew.com James Mayhew LinkedIn0 comments0
- Randy Joppie -- Putting the pieces together to move a team forwardAs a leader, you don’t have to be the best at everything. Rather, you need to know how to use the strengths of each individual to help the team be successful. Today’s guest is Randy Joppie, Vice President of Employee Benefits at USI Insurance Services. Randy is a business and sales expert leading a team of expert analysts. In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Randy talks with host Ken Trupke about working with a team of specialists, some of the mistakes he’s made in his career, changing technology, and working with team members across multiple generations. Episode Highlights: The importance of respect in teams. How to lead teams through communication. How to adapt to the changing industry. Timestamps: [01:07] Leading a team with different roles. [02:52] The size of the team. [08:29] Working as a team and directing. [11:47] Learning from mistakes. [14:53] Running businesses as the owner. [17:17] Learning to lead teams, [19:16] What has changed over time? [22:42] Working with people from different generations. [24:13] Randy’s advice. [26:33] Randy’s recommended content. Episode Quotes: “Anything you know that can be taught is going to lose value over time.” (Ken) “You never know who is going to end up where and when.” (Randy) “There’s more than one way to get something done.” (Randy) Randy’s Recommended Reading: Fanatical Prospecting, by Jeb Blount. Connect with Randy Joppie: randy.joppie@usi.com www.usi.com Randy Joppie LinkedIn0 comments0
- Adam Sutton -- Building and growing teams as a franchisorLeading a single team has plenty of challenges. In the franchise world, you’re working with multiple teams, including the franchisees, the company stores, and the team back at the home office. Each group brings its own unique set of challenges. Today’s guest, Adam Sutton, is president of RNR Tire Express, a rent-to-own tire and wheel concept with stores and teams across the country. On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Adam talks with host Ken Trupke about growing the company after taking the reins from his legendary father, Larry Sutton, and the challenges of working with multiple teams in different locations. Episode Highlights: How to grow large, qualified teams quickly. The importance of being the guide of the organization. How to find the right people for the organization. Timestamps: [01:12] Adam’s path to RNR. [02:42] Growing RLS. [07:37] Lessons learned from growing his teams. [11:00] Finding qualified people. [14:32] Growing the team at RNR. [16:43] The size of the team. [17:14] Adam’s role as president. [20:19] The franchisees. [23:06] Transitioning from his father. [26:41] Lessons learned from making mistakes. [30:40] Adam’s recommended content. Episode Quotes: “Surround yourself with smarter people.” (Adam) “It’s OK to make mistakes, as long as you learn from them.” (Adam) “Your time is the biggest investment you have. Don’t waste it.” (Adam) Adam’s Recommended Reading and Listening The Bible " Road to Power" by Laura Colby. The Sales Edge podcast with Joe Pici Business Movers podcast from Wondery American Innovations podcast from Wondery Secret Sauce podcast from Wondery The Way I Heard It podcast with Mike Rowe SmartLess podcast with Jason Bateman, Sean Haynes, and Will Arnett Connect with Adam Sutton: RNR Tire Express company website RNR Tire Express franchising website Adam Sutton on LinkedIn0 comments0
- Ken Trupke -- Building a recession-proof work cultureIf we’re not already in a recession, it certainly looks like we’re going to be. We’ve had two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth, which is the traditional definition of a recession. There have been some attempts to redefine that definition, but regardless, we’re either in one or headed towards one. But this isn’t an economics lesson. On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke talks about building a recession-proof culture – how to build a workplace and a team where people want to be there, even during hard times and economic challenges. Ken says it all starts with “why” – defining the core values and then effectively communicating them. He also talks about the importance of doing a daily huddle, creating an attractive company, and being intentional with every step you take. Episode Highlights: Why communication is important for building an intentional culture. The power of bringing people together. How to get your culture ready for the recession. Timestamps: [02:16] The two big reasons why people stay or leave jobs. [03:45] Defining culture. [04:15] Making culture more intentional. [04:47] Start with ‘why.’ [07:17] Core values. [11:45] Skills. [16:37] Communicating the ‘why’ and core values. [23:00] The daily huddle. [25:08] Attractiveness. [29:25] Be intentional. [36:19] The recession is here or it’s coming. Episode Quotes: “Culture can be thought of simply as a collection of our behaviors.” “Good people are looking for great companies.” “Whatever is in your head is going to come out of your mouth.” “The recession is either here or it’s coming.” Follow/Connect with Ken Trupke: ken@clarityadvisors.io www.clarityadvisors.io Ken Trupke on LinkedIn0 comments0
- The Clarity Advisors Show Nov 1 · 29m Nolan King -- The challenges of being a young leader of volunteersBeing a leader is never easy, but it can be especially challenging if you’re leading a sales team, leading volunteers, or if you’re young. And today’s guest on The Clarity Advisors Show is facing all three…and winning! In this episode, Nolan King, the youngest Regional Sales Coordinator at Aflac, talks with host Ken Trupke about overcoming this triple challenge, the lessons he’s learned while building his team, and how hiring a coach has helped him become a better leader. Episode Highlights: Building relationships through actions. Why people are more important than processes. Why business leaders should hire an outside coach. Timestamps: [01:02] The triple challenge. [01:54] Nolan’s journey. [03:55] The team and their coverage. [04:31] Challenge #1: Young leader. [09:25] Finding his true self as a leader. [12:03] Challenge #2: Sales. [14:25] Metrics, meetings, and role-playing. [16:13] Challenge #3: Volunteers. [18:23] Lessons learned from recruiting people. [20:47] How Nolan’s upbringing helped his career as a leader. [23:11] Nolan’s recommended reading. [25:01] Hiring a coach. Episode Quotes: “Everything to do with leadership is building relationships.” (Nolan) “If you’re going to lead a team, you have to constantly add value to them.” (Nolan) “Put pressure on the process, not the person.” (Nolan) Nolan’s Recommended Reading and Listening: Developing the Leader Within You by John Maxwell Follow/Connect with Nolan King: 812-821-7913 (cell) Nolan_King@us.aflac.com www.aflac.com Nolan King LinkedIn0 comments0
- Nelson Wilner -- Building relationships and trust within teamsAs you advance in your career from frontline supervisor through management and into senior leadership, one thing that doesn’t change is the need to make decisions. Today’s guest is Nelson Wilner, Vice President of Kawasaki Engines USA. On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Nelson talks with host Ken Trupke about his career journey and the lessons he learned from his leaders along the way. Nelson emphasizes the importance of building relationships and mutual trust. And they discuss how to balance leading teams while directing operations and the pluses and minuses of working remotely versus being together in-person. Episode Highlights Why it’s important to share your vision with employees. How to make the right decisions that affect a large team. Why it’s better to work together. What it takes to be a truly good leader. Timestamps [01:06] Nelson’s journey. [02:43] Nelson’s first leadership position. [03:21] Lessons learned from other leaders. [05:26] Expanding into middle management. [06:45] Leading teams vs. leading operations. [08:52] Moving into senior leadership. [10:25] Making decisions that affect a large team. [13:37] Navigating the pandemic. [16:44] What makes working together better? [21:59] Principles that just always work. [23:44] In-person vs remote outcomes. [25:40] Building relationships with the team. [28:21] Nelson’s recommended reading. Episode Quotes “There’s no replacement for experience.” (Nelson) “There comes a point in your career where you have to care more about the careers of the people who are working for you than your own career.” (Nelson) “The responsibility of every leader is to try to set up the company for success.” (Nelson) “Employees and employers have to trust each other.” (Nelson) “It’s good to learn and to be a sponge, and to absorb along the way.” (Nelson) Recommended Reading "Leaders Eat Last" by Simon Sinek Follow/Connect with Nelson Wilner Nelson Wilner on LinkedIn Kawasaki Engines USA website0 comments0
- Joe Ponds -- Generating leads for your businessWhen you’re starting a business, one of the first challenges is finding buyers. Today’s guest is Joe Ponds, president of Ponds Consulting and an expert in lead-generation. In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Joe and host Ken Trupke talk about identifying and targeting high-quality leads for your business. Joe also shares some lessons he learned in law-enforcement and the military to help you communicate better in today’s business world. Episode Highlights How to define your target market to get better-quality leads. The key to making a sale is being able to adapt to the customer and the situation. Rejection is not personal. Sometimes a customer just doesn’t need what you’re selling. Timestamps [3:34] How “selling jail” as a law-enforcement officer applies to just about everything in life. [5:52] Techniques learned in law-enforcement to help reduce conflict in the workplace. [8:29] Using the DISC model to identify and understand potential clients. [13:22] Lessons from the military that still apply today, and some that don’t anymore. [19:55] Fishing vs. hunting for leads. [23:17] Identifying the type of customers you’re looking for. [24:18] The importance of being concise. [26:31] Getting your salespeople over the hurdle and making phone calls. Episode Quotes “You need to know to whom you are selling.” (Joe) “Everybody likes to be spoken to in their own language.” (Joe) “Being direct and being very clear – but being polite – always works, regardless of where you come from.” (Joe) “A lot of times we keep our praise very, very quiet and our correction very, very loud. It should be the reverse.” (Joe) “Lead generation is…taking a suspect and making them into a prospect.” (Joe) “You need to have three things for a proper purchase. One, a need. Two, timing. And three, the money. If any one – or a combination of those – does not exist, it does not matter how good you are.” (Joe) Episode Resources The Sales Edge with Joe Pici (podcast) “Traction” by Gino Wickman “The Power of Positive Thinking” by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale “Leadership and Self-Deception” by the Arbinger Institute Follow/connect with Joe Ponds 813-541-3994 call/text Joe Ponds on LinkedIn For a free e-book from Joe Ponds, text PONDS to 556780 comments0
- Ken Misiewicz -- Leading an employee-owned companyLeading an employee-owned company doesn’t necessarily mean all the employees think like owners. Today’s guest, Ken Misiewicz, is the President and CEO of Pleune Service Company, an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) company. On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Ken and host Ken Trupke talk about the unique challenges of running an employee-owned company, building trust throughout the organization, and staying relevant across multiple generations. They also discuss the importance of conveying important information logically while also connecting emotionally. Episode Highlights: How to build and maintain an employee-owned company. Listening skills are key for making improvements within the company. Building trust is vital for maintaining a cohesive team. Generational changes are important for a leader to consider. Timestamps: [01:02] Ken Misiewicz’s rise through the ranks. [02:19] Ken Misiewicz’s current team structure. [03:56] The challenges of employee-owned companies. [06:37] Having a dedicated safety manager. [08:18] Ken Misiewicz’s lessons from building a team as CEO. [09:25] The challenge of making changes. [11:00] The importance of leading with the human element. [12:33] How to gather and process negative feedback within the company. [15:33] To improve listening skills, the mindset is continuous improvement. [17:00] Building up trust consistently over time. [18:31] Employee-owned vs. non-employee-owned companies. [20:13] Ken Misiewicz’s advice for new leaders. [23:13] Encouraging people to push back against conventional thinking about going into the trades. [25:36] Ken Misiewicz’s go-to advice. [27:29] Ken Misiewicz , the continual learner. Episode Quotes: “The values have to be aligned and the motivators have to be aligned. You can’t force people to your way of thinking.” (Ken Misiewicz) “You don’t want to get so far out there that there’s nobody with you.” (Ken Misiewicz) “Right now, the mindset needs to be more inclusive and not tribal.” (Ken Misiewicz) “You grow as you go.” ( Ken Misiewicz) Episode Resources: Atomic Habits, by James Clear. Follow/Connect with Ken Misiewicz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenmisiewicz0 comments0
- Krystal Parker -- Growing volunteer and paid teamsOne of the challenges facing leaders in the not-for-profit sector is figuring out how to successfully integrate volunteers with paid team members. Today’s guest, Krystal Parker, is the President of the US & Central Florida Christian Chamber of Commerce. On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Krystal shares some of her journey to becoming the executive director of the U. S. Christian Chamber of Commerce, her career in corporate America, and the value of servant leadership. Teams of volunteers have different dynamics and needs than teams of paid employees. And mixed teams are different still. Krystal discusses these differences as well as growing diverse teams and lessons she has learned from building relationships and maintaining trust remotely. Episode Highlights: How to lead teams with influential authority How to grow a team of leaders The importance of serving as a leader How to build relationships and maintain trust remotely Timestamps: [00:56] The Christian Chamber of Commerce [01:53] Krystal’s journey to becoming executive director [03:49] Building teams of volunteers and paid team members [07:41] Transitioning from the corporate mindset [12:55] The difference between working with volunteers as opposed to a paid team. [16:34] Krystal’s corporate career [20:58] Becoming the boss of her bosses [25:01] Being remote before remote was cool [30:31] “The Best Robot Wins: It Ain’t Personal, It’s Just Business” Episode Quotes: “It is less about you and more about the individuals that you are leading.” (Krystal) “You, as the leader, work for the people in your organization.” (Krystal) “Be as alike as possible, as different as necessary.” (Krystal) Krystal’s Recommended Reading and Listening The Best Robot Wins: It Ain’t Personal, It’s Just Business Follow/Connect with Krystal Parker: 915-491-9898 (Krystal's cell) krystalparker@intentandimpact.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/krystal-parker-mba-65962475/ intentandimpact.com (Krystal's website) CFChristianChamber.com (Central Florida Christian Chamber) uschristianchamber.com (U.S. Christian Chamber)0 comments0
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