Scaling Up Business with Bill Gallagher

Effective leaders know how to delegate the things they don’t do well — or don’t want to do well — so that they can focus on their strengths and move the company toward greater success.   Dave Kerpen is currently an advisor to many companies and is the CEO/Co-Founder of Apprentice, a platform that connects entrepreneurs and business leaders with smart and motivated college students looking for real-world experience and mentorship. Dave’s new book, Get Over Yourself, shares the roadmap for how you can shift your mindset (and your workload) to focus on the things most important for your business, your employees, and you. Dave calls himself a serial entrepreneur and is the first to admit that he has made plenty of delegating mistakes over the years. But failing doesn’t mean the game is over, it simply means that now you have more information to learn from as you keep moving forward. But should effective leaders learn how to do everything themselves before delegating some tasks to others? Dave says no. Rather, it’s arrogant for a leader to think that they would be the best option for all tasks compared to the team they have assembled around them. Instead, leaders should focus on the SHARE strategy — Set the vision for the company, get the Hiring piece right, and assure Access to REsources and cash to get the job done. Too many leaders assume that they are the best fit for every aspect of the work, and as a result, they get stuck doing the work that would be best delegated to someone else. Effective leaders trust others, including young people who are just entering the workforce, to fill in the gaps and share their knowledge for the greater collective good of the company. Interview Links: Dave Kerpen Resources: Growth Navigator Coaching Scaling Up Summits (Select Bill Gallagher as your coach during registration for a discount.) Bill on YouTube Recruiter.com Short List (use code scaleup) Scaling Up is the best-selling book by Verne Harnish and our team for Scaling Up Coaches (formerly Gazelles). We share how the fastest-growing companies succeed where so many others fail. Bill Gallagher, Scaling Coach and host of the show is an international business coach who works with C-Suite leaders to achieve breakthrough growth. We help leadership teams with the biggest decisions around People, Strategy, Execution, and Cash so that they can Scale Up successfully and beat the odds of business growth. Scaling Up is based on Verne’s original best-selling business book, Mastering the Rockefeller Habits. Did you enjoy today’s episode? If so, then please leave a review! Help other business leaders discover the Scaling Up Business Podcast so they, too, can benefit from the ideas shared in these podcasts.

In this episode, the focus is on mastering the art of pitching within the context of growing a company, emphasizing the importance of engaging people effectively despite their inherent complexities and irrationalities. Recognizing that people, including ourselves, operate in ways that might only make sense to them, the episode delves into how to craft a pitch that resonates and leads to more affirmative responses. The key lies in sharing a compelling vision of the future that addresses a problem or gap and depicts an improved future state. This approach not only demonstrates an understanding of the current challenges but also ignites excitement and passion, crucial elements for driving decision-making and action. The episode further explores the significance of personalizing the pitch to align with the interests and desires of the audience. This requires setting aside one's own objectives to contemplate what truly matters to the other party, speculating on their motivations, and explicitly connecting the benefits of the proposal to their specific needs or goals. By articulating how the proposed vision relates directly to them, it's possible to create a more persuasive and impactful pitch. This strategy, comprising a clear depiction of the problem, a vision for a better future, and a personalized connection, is presented as a reliable formula for consistently perfect pitches, transcending the need for perfectly chosen words and instead focusing on genuinely addressing and engaging with the other person's aspirations and challenges.

In this episode, Bill delves into the psychological barriers that hinder our ability to secure affirmative responses in business interactions, emphasizing the detrimental impact of personal concerns and self-doubt. He identifies common worries, such as fearing one is too salesy or arrogant, and illustrates how these internal fears can prevent effective communication and diminish the enthusiasm in pitches or proposals. Bill proposes a solution to shift focus away from oneself and towards understanding and addressing the needs and interests of the other party. By acknowledging and setting aside personal concerns, rather than suppressing or compensating for them, individuals can engage more authentically and constructively in conversations. This approach encourages looking beyond one's insecurities to concentrate on the other person's perspective, fostering a more connected and productive dialogue that can lead to a mutually beneficial "yes." Bill's insights highlight the importance of self-awareness and adaptability in overcoming personal barriers, thereby enhancing the ability to scale one's business more enjoyably and effectively.

The ultimate goal of building a company is to build its value. Designing a company that can get rich is not always top-of-mind for business owners, but it should be.   Christopher Volk is the author of The Value Equation. Christopher was instrumental in leading and publicly listing three successful companies, two of which he co-founded. A 2019 regional winner of EYs’ Entrepreneur of the Year award, Christopher is a frequent university lecturer and serves on multiple non-profit boards. Not all companies are created equal. While many companies focus on their goods or services that are designed to make the world a better place, what separates an average company from a successful company is its ability to master the financial aspects of business. In order to get really good at one thing to the point that people are willing to pay money for it, business owners have to be willing to reject a lot of other things. Determine who your core customers are, identify what you can do to bring them value, and hone in on just that, leaving everything else behind. Consider what you would do if you could do it all over again. How can you disrupt your business, or put yourself out of business? Those are the steps you need to take today to make your company more successful tomorrow. Interview Links: Christopher Volk Resources: Growth Navigator Coaching Scaling Up Summits (Select Bill Gallagher as your coach during registration for a discount.) Bill on YouTube Recruiter.com Short List (use code scaleup) Scaling Up is the best-selling book by Verne Harnish and our team for Scaling Up Coaches (formerly Gazelles). We share how the fastest-growing companies succeed where so many others fail. Bill Gallagher, Scaling Coach and host of the show, is an international business coach who works with C-Suite leaders to achieve breakthrough growth. We help leadership teams with the biggest decisions around People, Strategy, Execution, and Cash so that they can Scale Up successfully and beat the odds of business growth. Scaling Up is based on Verne’s original best-selling business book, Mastering the Rockefeller Habits. Did you enjoy today’s episode? If so, then please leave a review! Help other business leaders discover the Scaling Up Business Podcast so they, too, can benefit from the ideas shared in these podcasts.

In this episode, Bill introduces a comprehensive approach to talent assessment aimed at enhancing team performance and fostering a positive work environment as businesses grow. He emphasizes the critical importance of assembling a team that not only performs well but also aligns with the company's values and culture. Bill introduces the concept of a talent assessment tool and process that focuses on two main criteria: fit with the company's values and performance in their current roles. This straightforward assessment provides a clear strategy for managing team members, highlighting the need to nurture high performers who embody the company's ethos and reconsider the fit of those who don't, regardless of their performance. Bill delves into categorizing team members into A players, B players, and those who neither fit the company's culture nor meet performance expectations. He suggests actionable strategies for each category, including training for B players to enhance their performance and making the tough decision to part ways with those who, despite high performance, do not fit the company's culture. This segment emphasizes the impact of each team member on the overall team dynamic, underscoring the importance of alignment between individual contributions and the company's core values for sustained growth and success. Throughout the episode, Bill encourages leaders to undertake this talent assessment process with rigor and caution, ensuring that decisions are based on accurate evaluations of both fit and performance. This thoughtful approach to team management aims to increase the proportion of A players within the organization, thereby improving team morale, performance, and ultimately, the company's ability to scale effectively.

Does dignity in the workplace really matter? Plenty of companies seem to get by without upholding dignity, but with over 40 years of experience and $60 million in annual sales, today’s return podcast guest knows there is a better way.   Ari Weinzweig is the co-founder of Zingermans Delicatessen. Ari, alongside his co-founder, Paul Saginaw, started Zingerman’s in 1982 as a restaurant and specialty food retail space. Now the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses has 23 partners, employs over 750 people, and generates over $60 million in annual sales from ten separate businesses. In countries and companies alike where dignity is the norm, progress can happen. Companies that are run by tyrants limit growth and eliminate progress. Dignity has been central to the success of Andy’s 42-year business partnership with Paul Sagen. Together they built and expanded a community business that has provided people with a place to connect. Ari reflects on his vision and approach to successful business scaling. Ten years in, he and his partner realized they had reached a threshold of success without a clear vision of where to go next. A vision is a win-win future and an action plan to make it happen. And integral to the success of the vision is the upheld dignity for everyone involved. Ari highlights the six elements of dignity that he has challenged himself to work with every day. From honoring humanity to acting authentically without acting out, dignity is at the core of success in the modern workplace. Interview Links: Ari Weinzweig Resources: Growth Navigator Coaching Scaling Up Summits (Select Bill Gallagher as your coach during registration for a discount.) Bill on YouTube Recruiter.com Short List (use code scaleup) Scaling Up is the best-selling book by Verne Harnish and our team for Scaling Up Coaches (formerly Gazelles). We share how the fastest-growing companies succeed where so many others fail. Bill Gallagher, Scaling Coach and host of the show, is an international business coach who works with C-Suite leaders to achieve breakthrough growth. We help leadership teams with the biggest decisions around People, Strategy, Execution, and Cash so that they can Scale Up successfully and beat the odds of business growth. Scaling Up is based on Verne’s original best-selling business book, Mastering the Rockefeller Habits. Did you enjoy today’s episode? If so, then please leave a review! Help other business leaders discover the Scaling Up Business Podcast so they, too, can benefit from the ideas shared in these podcasts.

In this episode, Bill explores the crucial concept of process accountability as a key driver for company growth and efficiency. Focusing on the interplay between team engagement, performance, and the seamless integration of various business processes, Bill sheds light on the importance of defining and managing core processes distinct from functional responsibilities within a company. He emphasizes that processes like the transition from lead to customer experience involve multiple departments and, without clear accountability, can lead to missed opportunities and inefficiencies. Bill delves into the idea that while functions such as sales, marketing, and operations have clear leaders, cross-functional processes often lack a defined ownership, leading to potential issues in the handoff between departments. By identifying core processes and establishing metrics and ownership, companies can mitigate risks and improve overall performance. Bill encourages listeners to map out their business processes, identify where functional handoffs occur, and appoint process owners to ensure smooth operations and enhance the customer journey from lead generation to payment collection. Throughout the episode, Bill provides actionable advice on how to identify, map, and measure core business processes, stressing the importance of accountability and leadership in process management. He suggests that this strategic focus on process accountability is essential for businesses aiming to scale effectively and maintain high levels of operational excellence.

In this insightful episode, Bill dives into the critical importance of fostering a culture of learning and development within businesses to fuel growth and ensure talent retention. Bill emphasizes the necessity for every team member to contribute effectively and how investing in employee development significantly enhances job satisfaction and loyalty. He shares practical advice for companies, especially those operating with limited resources, on how to cultivate a continuous learning environment that benefits both employees and the organization. Bill outlines actionable strategies for integrating learning into the company's fabric, highlighting innovative and budget-friendly approaches such as "lunch and learn" sessions and leveraging tools like Trainual for efficient learning management. He stresses the positive outcomes of becoming a learning organization, including improved employee performance, increased value, and stronger retention rates. Tune in as Bill unpacks the steps businesses of any size can take to build a dynamic and supportive learning culture, ultimately driving their success and scalability.

Are you working at a job, or are you working at building a business that will be worth enough to sell someday?   Michael E. Gerber is the author of the NY Times mega-bestseller for two consecutive decades, The E-Myth Revisited, and nine other worldwide best-selling E-Myth books. For over 40 years, Michael has been impacting the lives of small business owners as one of the world's most renowned small business thought leaders. With 34 books in his name, Michael is a rockstar author who describes his success with The E-Myth Revisited a complete accident. He knew how to sell encyclopedias, and he quickly learned how to sell systems for any company. The true product of a business is the business itself, and therein lies the secret of success. Instead of trying to reinvent everything all the time, the basics of business are the same across the board. Companies succeed when they have their basics covered. Michael shares the success of McDonald’s, what he calls the most successful small business in the world. It’s not the culture of a company that creates the success, it’s the approach to developing people in a way that they know the story, the vision, and the values of a company and can deliver it to customers over and over again. In business, practice absolutely makes perfect. The experience of practicing creates a ritual, and that ritual leads to mastery. When companies can master their offerings in a way that can be delivered flawlessly to their customers, they will find success. Interview Links: Michael E. Gerber Resources: Growth Navigator Coaching Scaling Up Summits (Select Bill Gallagher as your coach during registration for a discount.) Bill on YouTube Recruiter.com Short List (use code scaleup) Scaling Up is the best-selling book by Verne Harnish and our team for Scaling Up Coaches (formerly Gazelles). We share how the fastest-growing companies succeed where so many others fail. Bill Gallagher, Scaling Coach and host of the show, is an international business coach who works with C-Suite leaders to achieve breakthrough growth. We help leadership teams with the biggest decisions around People, Strategy, Execution, and Cash so that they can Scale Up successfully and beat the odds of business growth. Scaling Up is based on Verne’s original best-selling business book, Mastering the Rockefeller Habits. Did you enjoy today’s episode? If so, then please leave a review! Help other business leaders discover the Scaling Up Business Podcast so they, too, can benefit from the ideas shared in these podcasts.

Dave Newell, CEO of Evolve Leadership Consulting, empowers small business leaders to optimize their operations using the Five Facets of Business. He reveals how many companies struggle because they’re too focused on symptoms rather than addressing underlying systems. Newell shares a compelling case study of a company transforming from a chaotic $750,000 operation to a streamlined organization on the path to $20 million. With insights on self-delusion, communication, and strategic alignment, he emphasizes that true growth requires a holistic approach.