Scaling Up Business with Bill Gallagher

Today’s panel coaches are Andres Zylberberg and Kim Bayer-Augustavo. Andres has over 15 years of experience as a consultant and business growth coach and Kim worked as the Marketing Officer for McDonald’s for over 22 years and now impacts companies as a growth coach, as well.   Our panel will be discussing and sharing their thoughts on some of Verne’s insights and will be highlighting some of the world’s most interesting events for the month of December. They talk about gender equality in the workplace, whether culture fit hurts diversity, and why you should stop saying your company is like a family.   There’s a big shift in culture around the world, not just in the Middle East. However, Saudi Arabia is a prime example showcasing that it’s never too late to make a change and go against what is considered ‘tradition’ with their recent end to gender segregation in restaurants.   When it comes to equality in the workplace, the more equal the culture, the more likely they are to innovate and create something amazing. Cultures that have a balance of both genders were not afraid to fail in the pursuit of innovation.   There is often a disconnect between what we want the company to be versus what it actually is from a culture perspective. Andres highlights an example where if you’re not happy with the culture of the company, it starts with you first. A CEO commented to him that his culture began to change the moment he stopped wearing a suit to work. People within the organization realized very quickly that it was okay to change!   Ben Horowitz is out with a new book, What You Do Is Who You Are: How to Create Your Business Culture. In it, he discusses that strong cultures include a ‘shocking rule.’ Kim really likes this idea and will be working with clients going forward on incorporating more of this into a company’s culture. A shocking rule captures people’s attention and helps them think outside of the box.   Denise Lee Yoh makes the case to not talk about your company like they are your family. Bill once had ‘we’re like a family’ in his company values and he had to retire it because he realized that when you fire the employee, you’re not inviting them to Thanksgiving dinner.   Kim agrees. When she worked with McDonald’s, they used to call themselves a McFamily. However, the culture has changed dramatically since its inception and the prior CEO, Steve Easterbrook, said that family doesn’t apply anymore because they are a business.   Andres worked with a client where the family concept was no longer applicable in their business as well. Instead of tying a family connection into the company, they shifted focus and developed a growth mindset instead. They asked everyone, ‘What do you want to get out of this company?’ Andres feels this is a much better approach than trying to build a family connection in a company. It’s a give-and-take approach and it sets the right expectations for everyone.   Interview Links: Andreszylberberg.com Augustavointernational.com Accenture’s Latest Report on Equality Google Founders Step Aside What You Do Is Who You Are: How to Create Your Business Culture, by Ben Horowitz “Stop Saying Your Company Is Like A Family,” by Denise Lee Yohn   Resources: Scaling Up Workshop: Interested in attending one of our workshops? We have a few $100 discounts for our loyal podcast listeners!Scaling Up for Business Growth Workshop: Take the first step to mastering the Rockefeller Habits by attending one of our workshops. Scaling Up Summits (Select Bill Gallagher as your coach during registration for a discount.) Bill on YouTube

Today’s guest shares his experience going through the EO Accelerator program and how it has made an impact on his startup. Bill also takes this time to answer some common questions that he often gets from people who are interested in joining.   Chris Ronzio is the Founder and CEO of Trainual, a leading SaaS company that helps fast-growing businesses automate their onboarding and training process. This is Chris’s fourth business and will finish this year with 25 employees and millions of dollars in revenue.   Chris believes the Accelerator program was like his real-world business education. He went through a business undergrad program before, but it really only covered the basics. This specific program is for companies that are in between $250,000 to a million dollars in revenue and it’s to help get you over the first million in sales through the use of systems and processes.   When Chris joined the program, he was paired with an accountability group, which was a completely new experience for Chris. He was assigned six other people and they would meet once a month for about three hours. The support group was so critical because Chris finally had a place where he could vent out his problems and get real solutions to them.   For example, Chris was going through a big problem one day. He had paid one of his vendors $10,000 and the vendor hadn’t delivered what he wanted. It didn’t look like the refund was going to happen either and there was a lot of conflict going on. The coach in the accountability group helped put things into perspective. It’s a small town, do you want to have a bad reputation? Can you practice empathy in this situation? Chris learned a very valuable lesson of ‘sunk costs’ and he wouldn’t have gained that without having an outside perspective.   Interview Links: Trainual.com Eonetwork.org   Resources: Scaling Up Workshop: Interested in attending one of our workshops? We have a few $100 discounts for our loyal podcast listeners!Scaling Up for Business Growth Workshop: Take the first step to mastering the Rockefeller Habits by attending one of our workshops. Scaling Up Summits (Select Bill Gallagher as your coach during registration for a discount.) Bill on YouTube  

Are you currently in the startup phase where you’re launching a new business? Or are you already established, but looking to launch a new product or service? Then this episode is for you! Today’s guest dives into how you can make the startup phase a little easier on yourself so that you can scale up faster later on.   Jon Warner is a five-time CEO and currently serves as the CEO for Silver Moon shots. He is widely respected as an entrepreneurship mentor and lectures on entrepreneurship at both the undergraduate and MBA level. Jon also has 40 published books under his belt with topics ranging from leadership, innovation, and more.   Jon’s latest book, The SLAM Process, which stands for Startup Launch Assistance Map, uncovers how new founders can maximize their success during all the startup chaos. The book provides an easy set of sequential checklist-based approaches so that it can easily serve as a guide for any startup.   So many startups get it backward, at first. They develop a product to solve a problem first, instead of going out and researching if the problem is indeed a ‘big deal.’ Jon worked with a company that initially built a water/showering solution for the homeless and for festivals, but it turned out that neither niche wanted those things, so they had to pivot! Today, this company is in the disaster relief field and is working with the U.S. Navy to incorporate their showering product overseas.   In Jon’s book, he has simplified the Business Model Canvas, which is often found in lean startups. Jon has been using this model for a number of years and found it to lack sequence and to be a bit difficult for his entrepreneurs to follow. Jon’s version has a clearer sequence and really focuses on the ecosystem entrepreneurs plan on entering, which is not something the business model canvas addresses.   Interview Links: Slamprocess.com Silvermoonshots.org Jon on LinkedIn The Lean Startup, by Eric Ries   Resources: Scaling Up Workshop: Interested in attending one of our workshops? We have a few $100 discounts for our loyal podcast listeners!Scaling Up for Business Growth Workshop: Take the first step to mastering the Rockefeller Habits by attending one of our workshops. Scaling Up Summits (Select Bill Gallagher as your coach during registration for a discount.) Bill on YouTube

Anything big that you want to accomplish will require scaling up and that also means you will need a good team on your side. How do you cultivate a good team? The topic of this week’s show covers how you can build collaboration, growth, and engagement with your people so that everyone in the organization prospers.   Jeff Manchester is the Co-author of the book, The Power of Vulnerability - How to Create a Team of Leaders by shifting INward. Jeff has worked with over 1,000 Presidents and CEO as their executive coach to help their management teams excel in their current role and develop a more collaborative work environment.   Jeff worked with a consulting client recently who was in the auto parts industry. He was in the room with 16 of their top tier and 2nd tier leadership and it was very apparent to Jeff that there was some disconnect between leadership. Their mission, process, and goals were a bit scattered. He knew that if this company wanted to see bigger growth, everyone needed to be aligned.   When Jeff was able to bring focus to their biggest goals, there was a big shift in the company. They were engaged because they believed in the message and went above and beyond for their vendors and service providers. They did extra touches that aligned with the company values and in turn, this made the providers feel valued and cared for. This gave their company 18 consecutive months of record sales they had never seen before.   Jeff shares a touching story of another client. When one of the leadership teams shared a vulnerable and devastating story of loss, uncertainty, and illness, the whole company banded together with her and it even made them change their company culture to be less bureaucratic and more helpful. Through this experience, they were able to hit their 12-month targets within 6 months.   Interview Links: Shift180.com Jeff on LinkedIn   Resources: Scaling Up Workshop: Interested in attending one of our workshops? We have a few $100 discounts for our loyal podcast listeners!Scaling Up for Business Growth Workshop: Take the first step to mastering the Rockefeller Habits by attending one of our workshops. Scaling Up Summits (Select Bill Gallagher as your coach during registration for a discount.) Bill on YouTube  

You’re going to have a hard time developing your business and scaling up if you’re also not developing yourself. Today’s guest’s story shares some of his leadership hardships and challenges. When we’re looking to improve the business, the first person we need to change is ourselves!   Jeff Harris is the Interim CEO at Nomos One, a lease accounting and lease management software firm. Jeff is also a member of the Forbes Business Development Council and has experience in operations, sales, product management, customer success, and more. Through Jeff’s leadership efforts, he has decreased costs, optimized cash flow, and increased revenue growth in companies as a Scale Up Implementer.   After experiencing symptoms of not being able to swallow, Jeff collapsed Christmas morning and had to be rushed to the hospital. It was there that he realized he had pneumonia and was later diagnosed with a rare disease called esophageal achalasia, which makes it difficult for food and liquid to pass into the stomach. He was put on a liquid diet for 3 months and he lost 30lbs.   Throughout this time, he didn’t want his three kids to see dad being a victim of his illness. He wanted to set a positive example for them that you can push through adversity, but it was tough. Food is such a central point in our lives. The first time Jeff went into a grocery store and realized he couldn’t eat anything, he got overwhelmed and frustrated. The smell of good food around him during mealtime was absolute torture.   Instead of having an ‘oh poor me’ attitude, you have to change your focus to a growth mindset. Where you are today is tough, but you’re not stuck there. So what are your options? How do you lead yourself out of it? It’s so easy to focus on the end-game, but what happens if you don’t know when that’ll be? Instead of giving yourself mental torture, focus on the positives of the journey you’re on now.   Interview Links: Nomosone.com Jeff on LinkedIn Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Carol Dweck   Resources: Scaling Up Workshop: Interested in attending one of our workshops? We have a few $100 discounts for our loyal podcast listeners!Scaling Up for Business Growth Workshop: Take the first step to mastering the Rockefeller Habits by attending one of our workshops. Scaling Up Summits (Select Bill Gallagher as your coach during registration for a discount.) Bill on YouTube

Are you uncomfortable being the spokesperson or being the person that speaks out? Or are you somebody who loves to perform but your message is not always effective? This week’s episode is for both of these types of people. On the show, our guest will be covering how to embrace the spotlight and have the ability to speak with power and poise.   Eleanor Beaton is an internationally-recognized expert in women’s leadership and an advisor to growth-oriented women entrepreneurs. She currently sits on the board of directors of two Canadian venture capital organizations and is both a keynote speaker and podcast host of her own show, Fierce Feminine Leadership.   Eleanor started her career as a journalist interviewing very high-performing executives of fast-growing companies. In that journey, she received first-hand experience on what these executives were doing and what made them successful. At the time, there were not as many women in these C-suite seats, and this made Eleanor curious as to why that was.   For many people, being in the spotlight is terrifying. It can be so easy to just sit in the backseat and let the ‘experts’ take control but as entrepreneurs, you can’t do that. Even to show up day after day in the media spotlight can be hard, but by keeping your eye on your BHAG and what you’re trying to achieve, you can quickly see why it’s important to step into that light in order to share your mission with the world without getting burned out.   The power of story is still more relevant than ever. When you step into the spotlight with great stories, people remember you and it can build connections that transcend beyond education, experience, or the life achievements your audience has. This is how you prevent your message from falling flat once you’re in the spotlight.   Interview Links: Eleanorbeaton.com Eleanorbeatonpodcast.com The7virtues.com   Resources: Scaling Up Workshop: Interested in attending one of our workshops? We have a few $100 discounts for our loyal podcast listeners!Scaling Up for Business Growth Workshop: Take the first step to mastering the Rockefeller Habits by attending one of our workshops. Scaling Up Summits (Select Bill Gallagher as your coach during registration for a discount.) Bill on YouTube  

Today’s panel coaches are Lisa Foulger and Judy Guido. Lisa is an Executive Leadership Coach with over 25 years of experience and the Co-Founder of Gol Global, an organization that helps leaders scale themselves, their business, and their teams.   We also have returning guest Judy, who was featured on episodes 161 and 168. Judy is the Chair of Guido and Associates and has been a part of over 100 successful mergers and acquisitions. Our panel will be discussing and sharing their thoughts on some of their favorite topics at the Scaling Up Summit in Anaheim that occurred in October.   Some of Judy’s favorite speakers were Katica Roy and her touching story about how she immigrated to the United States and Molly Bloom’s story about surviving the mob’s attempts at killing her. Bill agrees. When he first heard Katica speak about women’s equality, he began to think about his wife, his mother, and his daughter, and what it really means to be an important member of our society.   Lisa really enjoyed Chip Conley’s keynote talk. His story about how he found success in the hospitality industry and the ability to transfer his knowledge into Airbnb was very insightful. Judy agrees. It is amazing how Chip understood his limits when it came to the technology aspect and was willing to grow with these new challenges as he faced them.   Bill pulls up an old welcome letter that Apple used to provide to their staff to help inspire them and lead them to greatness. Without knowing it. Chip did a similar thing when he first joined Airbnb. He was able to use his ‘elder’ knowledge and openness to guide and mentor Airbnb staff.   Lisa and Judy discuss the importance of meditation, yoga, or some kind of mindful practice for executives. At the summit, there were two navy SEALS there and even they showed the audience how they used breathing techniques to calm down in high points of stress. What was considered a bit ‘hippy’ and ‘out there’ a few decades ago is being used regularly by people who need to quiet their minds.   Interview Links: Judy Guido Judy on Episode 161 and Episode 168 Lisa Foulger   Katica Roy Molly Bloom Tom Peters Chip Conley Apple Welcome Letter David Meerman Scott John Dijulius   Resources: Scaling Up Workshop: Interested in attending one of our workshops? We have a few $100 discounts for our loyal podcast listeners!Scaling Up for Business Growth Workshop: Take the first step to mastering the Rockefeller Habits by attending one of our workshops. Scaling Up Summits (Select Bill Gallagher as your coach during registration for a discount.) Bill on YouTube  

Ever have one of your great ideas shot down only for someone else to relay the same message and be dubbed a revolutionary? Why does that happen? Sometimes the messenger is more important than the message. Today’s episode dives into how you can become a better messenger so that everyone hears your great idea first.   Steve Martin is the co-author of the international bestseller, Yes! 60 Secrets from the Science of Persuasion. He also wrote a series of Tax Letters that have generated millions in extra revenue for the UK Government and his popular business columns are read by over 2.5 million people every month.   Why is it that a pop star can tell people about a vaccine and everybody pays attention, but when their doctor, an expert, says the same thing, no one bats an eye? What qualities do these pop stars have that make people take notice and pay attention, and why are the experts often ignored? Surprisingly, no one has looked at this in any detail in over 40 years.   What are some of the characteristics of an effective messenger? A lot of these skills actually fly underneath the radar and we almost take them for granted. There are two types of messengers: the hard messenger and the soft messenger. The hard messenger has some form of status over their audience, often before they’ve delivered the communication. They have dominance, competence, and attractiveness. This often applies to the rich and famous.   The soft messenger doesn’t have a form of status over their audience. Instead, they share a sense of connectedness with their audience. These messengers exude warmth, trustworthiness, vulnerability, or charisma.   Steve has spent two years studying these two messengers and has largely ignored the contents of their message. People often listen to how you say it, not what you say. This is evident by the news cycle where sometimes the math or the stories don’t add up yet it can cause panic and stress among the public.   Interview Links: Influenceatwork.co.uk   Resources: Scaling Up Workshop: Interested in attending one of our workshops? We have a few $100 discounts for our loyal podcast listeners!Scaling Up for Business Growth Workshop: Take the first step to mastering the Rockefeller Habits by attending one of our workshops. Scaling Up Summits (Select Bill Gallagher as your coach during registration for a discount.) Bill on YouTube  

We’ve got to work on ourselves before we can work on anybody else. As leaders, emotional intelligence is something we constantly have to work on and improve upon. Today’s guest dives into how you can become emotionally fit in work, leadership, and life.   Susan Packard is the author of two books, including her most recent book, Fully Human. Throughout her career, Susan has had her hand in developing long-lasting TV brands like Food Network and CNBC, and she built HGTV into a $15 billion business when she was COO for the organization. Today, she mentors both men and women who are curious about their promise and wanting to grow their potential.   In Susan’s book, Fully Human, she interviewed a wide range of leaders to get into their heads and really find out what makes successful people tick. Susan found out that it takes some time to build emotional intelligence. In Western culture, people don’t really stop to ask themselves what they want out of their life; instead, they are so laser-focused on producing, doing, and keeping busy, even if it’s to their detriment.   A leader with a good emotional IQ knows when to give their employees a break and doesn’t try to demand too much of their time away from home. Susan shares a story from her HGTV days. She was working late to deliver some important budget-related documents when she noticed that there was a big financial mistake in her work.   At prior careers, this mistake would have meant Susan would have been reprimanded in some way, but not at HGTV. When Susan told the CFO about the mistake at 12 a.m., he told her that they would both come into the office early that morning, look it over together, and fix it together before sending it off. The calmness in the CFO’s approach made Susan feel respected and trusted. A leader with emotional intelligence knows when it’s important to work together and not punish people for being honest.   Interview Links: Susanpackard.com   Resources: Scaling Up Workshop: Interested in attending one of our workshops? We have a few $100 discounts for our loyal podcast listeners!Scaling Up for Business Growth Workshop: Take the first step to mastering the Rockefeller Habits by attending one of our workshops. Scaling Up Summits (Select Bill Gallagher as your coach during registration for a discount.) Bill on YouTube  

This week’s episode is a client feature! We’ll be covering how the Scaling Up principles have helped this client create success in their temp staffing business and why focusing on people will always drive results.   Steve Conine is the Founder of Talent Framework, one of Nevada’s top full-service staffing and recruiting agencies. He is a speaker, workshop facilitator, and successful business consultant as well! Leveraging his experience as an operations manager and recruiter for 25 years, Steve has assisted companies of all sizes to successfully hire and manage.   Steve was able to put his company on the Inc list just by following the Scaling Up principles and increasing his growth by 174% in three years! He was first introduced to this space when he worked for a local staffing company and learned the industry, inside and out, on the corporate side. However, he got his feet wet in entrepreneurship when the owners were looking to retire and sell their business and franchise.   However, after 12 years, Steve was ready to go out on his own and leave the franchise business behind. He had a lot of things to learn about being an independent businessman, but through his coaching with Bill, he was able to keep focus and keep his goals on track.   Bill weighs in on what it was like working with Steve. When he first started, Steve’s company was a little bit on the small side, in terms of equity count and revenue and also Steve didn’t have a BHAG, but it was still a modest goal. Also, Bill notes that Steve was very open to experimentation and was willing to collaborate with Bill, which makes a big difference in the coaching world.   What did Steve think about the various tools you can leverage in the Scaling Up Framework? It was eye-opening for him to see what kinds of metrics mattered the most to him but were meaningless for everybody else. He was able to shave down the metric dashboard quite a bit just by sitting with Bill and his team to really see what was important and what was not.   Interview Links: Talentframework.com   Resources: Scaling Up Workshop: Interested in attending one of our workshops? We have a few $100 discounts for our loyal podcast listeners!Scaling Up for Business Growth Workshop: Take the first step to mastering the Rockefeller Habits by attending one of our workshops. Scaling Up Summits (Select Bill Gallagher as your coach during registration for a discount.) Bill on YouTube