On this week’s episode, we speak with special guest, Brain English, Co-Owner and President of 4 Walls, a Cleveland-based company specializing in designing and producing digitally printed wallcoverings, window films, acoustic fabrics, and other decor solutions. Brian started his career as an accountant, but ultimately decided to transition to entrepreneurship to create a lifestyle that better suited his growing family.

“I felt very restricted in the corporate world, and I just kept coming back to that dream I always had of doing my own thing and building it. Lucky for me, I've got the most amazing spouse and her family is incredible. They believed in me and really encouraged me, and us, to kind of go out and try to find a business that we could run on our own. Through some networking, we came across 4 Walls and, at the time, it wasn’t too big or too small, we shared a lot of values with the founder of the business, and the rest is kind of history,” says Brian.

We chat about Brian’s journey from accountant to entrepreneur, as well as:

• His biggest challenges and successes as a business owner
  
  

• Reconfiguring your business’ culture
  
  

• Locating and navigating your blind spots

• The importance of humility
  
  

• And more

Mentioned in this episode:

• 4Walls' Site
  

• 4Walls' LinkedIn
  

• Brian's LinkedIn
  

• Brian's Email

When Douglas Morris was in high school, he started computer programming – and loved it. 

So it’s no surprise that today he’s the founder and CEO of Computer Systems Innovations, Inc., which has helped nonprofit organizations with their technology needs since 1991. Specifically, with their membership software for things like paying dues, event registrations, and more.

Douglas believes in hands-on work and leadership in the company and that even he can always learn something new, which he does on a regular basis.

We talk about early days of the company, the biggest challenge he’s faced over the years (hint: it was a leadership struggle), and more. 

Tune in to discover…

• Why he lost half his stuff overnight – and how he overcome that hurdle

• Advice from Henry Ford that he follows to this day

• The 2 must-read books Douglas recommends that could change your business

• How “shrinking” the business at one point actually made it grow

• And more

Mentioned in this episode:

• Douglas Morris LinkedIn profile

• Douglas's Website
  

On this week’s episode, we chat with Rob Gilmore, Founder and CEO of RX’n’Go, about his journey to building a successful grassroots business. After spending 25 years working for major insurance companies in employee benefits and two years working as a benefit advisor, Rob started RX’n’Go to address some common frustrations with pharmacy costs and delivery of medications.

Since founding the company with his partner in 2010, they have grown from one account to over 250 employer groups offering RX’n’Go to their employees and family members. Rob currently resides in Cincinnati, Ohio, and enjoys traveling with his wife when he has the time to do so.

We chat about how Rob got his start in business, as well as:

• The idea that prompted the founding of RX’n’Go
  
  

• The biggest challenges and greatest successes he has faced in his journey thus far
  
  

• Why he believes some businesses achieve success where others might struggle
  
  

• Why he is optimistic about the future of RX’n’Go
  
  

• And more

Mentioned in this episode:

• RX’n’Go’s site

• Rob’s email

There is a saying that goes, “What have you done for me lately?” For technology companies, that means a focus on innovation through research and development because customers are always looking for faster, more effective products. 

Spectrum Technologies helps growers, from farmers to golf course turf managers, get the most out of their land through close monitoring of weather, soil conditions, nutrient management, and more. So it’s no surprise Mike Thurow, who founded the company 33 years ago, grew up on a farm.

Mike has an attitude of “always be learning”, which he brings to bear in his role as president and CEO, whether it’s watching industry trends or understanding his clients’ struggles and then identifying or creating technology to solve those problems. 

We talk about the journey from founding to today, and what he’s learned along the way, including…

• The most difficult role to hire – and why talented people don’t always work out

• The single change that had the biggest impact on profit margins

• How the creative use of existing technology in radically different industries was pivotal in the early days

• The biggest challenge to continued growth after more than three decades in business

• And more

Mentioned in this episode:

• Mike Thurow LinkedIn profile 

• Spectrum Website
  

• Spectrum Technologies Twitter page

• Spectrum Technologies LinkedIn profile

• Spectrum Technologies Facebook page

Sean Steimle, CEO of HPC Fire Inspired, shares how he came to own the company – and the steps he took before the deal to make it happen. He also goes into what the transition was like when he had to blend the existing, already-effective company culture with a growth-oriented mindset to take the business to the next level.

He says it was one his greatest challenges as a CEO, but he and his team were able to overcome it with one key process. Of course, with things like this, Sean notes that there is never an endpoint – it’s a continuous journey.

We dig deep into that, as well as…

• An innovation that has won them industry recognition – and the method anyone can model that got them there

• A technique for creating incremental improvement that leads to major changes

• How targeted collaboration can fill in your company’s “gaps”

• The two traits you must have to reach your most important goals

• And more

Mentioned in this episode:

• Sean Steimle LinkedIn Profile

• HPC Fire Inspired's Site
  
• 
  

When you have a compensation structure based on sales and profitability targets, it can be a challenge to keep your team working together towards common goals, says Darren Springer.

But as president and part-owner DEVITA Engineering, Darren has found a balance that incentivizes team members to excel in their individual roles but also support company goals. A big part of that is a leadership style that provides encouragement and stresses accountability.

He’s doing something right, because DEVITA has managed to grow by 17% year over year for the past eight years. Darren shares how they’ve been able to maintain this growth rate, as well as…

• What they’ve done to account for pandemic-related downturn and how they’re prepping for 2021

• How they’ve adapted to remote working – and why they might never go back to the “old way”

• What he views as the most important job of a company president

• His top tips for managing high-performing people – and their egos

• And more

Mentioned in this episode:

• DEVITA'S Site

• Darren Springer's LinkedIn Profile
  
• 
  

On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Tim Gase, Co-Owner and CEO of the Peerless Saw Company. Tim has been very successful in owning and leading an industrial manufacturing company in the heart of the midwest and has also positioned himself to be able to back away from his business on his own terms. 

Through his career, Tim has only ever worked for two companies. He began at Cooper Industries in Dayton, Ohio, where he held 8 job titles over 12 years in addition to earning his MBA, before transitioning to Peerless Saw, where he has been for the last 25 years. Tim currently lives in Columbus, Ohio with his wife, Jan, and enjoys fishing, hunting, building habitats for wildlife, and traveling across North and Central America.

We chat about Tim’s experience as a CEO with Peerless, as well as:

• His biggest challenges and successes as a business owner
  
  
• Maintaining a highly profitable business in a mature industry
  
  
• Keeping an open mind and welcoming opportunity
  
  
• The importance of having an intimate understanding of your business’ financials
  
  
• And more

Mentioned in this episode:

• Tim’s email

• Tim’s LinkedIn

• Peerless Saw’s site

• Peerless Saw’s LinkedIn

• Peerless Saw’s Facebook

On this week’s episode, we’re joined by special guest Richard Hagins. Richard comes from a humble background and has propelled himself through challenges and obstacles to position himself as a pillar of leadership within his community. After serving his country for 23 years as a US Naval Officer, Richard followed his entrepreneurial spirit when he founded US&S Inc. in 2003. He has received several accolades and awards, most recently being named Entrepreneur of the Year 2019 - Southeast by Ernst & Young.

Richard was formally educated in electronic engineering technology and holds a Master’s Degree in business management. He also has a wife and three daughters, one of whom has risen to become President of the company that he founded.

We chat about Richard’s journey from naval service to entrepreneurship, as well as:

• The challenges associated with growing his business
  
  
• Building and spreading a company culture, as well as culture’s importance to success
  
  
• The importance of establishing strong teaming relationships
  
  
• His business philosophy
  
  
• And more

Mentioned in this episode:

• US&S site

• Rich’s email

• US&S LinkedIn profile

• US&S Facebook page

• Rich’s LinkedIn

• Rich’s Facebook

On this week’s episode, we’re joined by special guest Jamie Prince, the Owner and President of Flourish, a marketing, public relations, and events firm she founded in the midst of the Great Recession. Since 2009, she’s grown her team to include twelve professionals, together with whom her firm has served over 100 brands across the southeast and has garnered over 60 awards for their work.

“Flourish began with just myself helping companies weather the recession, and believe it or not, on the other side of the recession, we experienced great growth and we had a very solid client base. We had earned their trust during a very difficult period for their businesses, and most of those people we still keep in touch with to this day. So that's how we started,” says Jamie.We chat about her journey to founding Flourish, as well as: 

• Her biggest challenges and successes as a CEO
  
  
• Learning to manage people and build a welcoming office culture
  
  
• The importance of grit
  
  
• Taking the right attitude towards failure
  
  
• And more

Mentioned in this episode:

• Jamie’s site

• Jamie’s Facebook

• Jamie’s Linkedin

• Jamie’s Instagram

• Jamie’s Blog

As a business owner, president, or CEO, there are two ways you can grow the business: be a grinder, working 60 or 70 hours a week or… you can work smarter and actually enjoy the financial and personal freedom being the boss is supposed to be all about.

I’m Kevin Minton, CEO of Chief Executive Boards International. Drawing upon my 25+ years of experience in sales, sales leadership, and management, I’m seeking to help owners find balance in their lives – and still achieve breakthrough business success in my new podcast: Lessons From the Boardroom.

I’ll have help, guests who share their real-life experiences and challenges in running their businesses so you can learn from their wins – and losses too. And because you know all too well that you can’t separate your work from your home life, I will also cover how to navigate relationships with spouses, family, and friends.

You can expect a free exchange of ideas and sometimes even some tough conversations.

Listen now...