Ditch Digger CEO with Gary Rabine

Steve Grubbs (https://www.victoryenterprises.com + https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-grubbs-4708825/) is an Internet and technology entrepreneur, having founded four companies: Victory XR, Paradigm, Victory Enterprises, and VictoryStore.com. In 2016, VictoryXR was founded, which produces virtual reality curriculum for schools. In 2018, Intel invited VictoryXR to participate in its mentorship program and Microsoft licensed it’s content. Viveport awarded VictoryXR its award for best education VR content for 2018. In 2018, Paradigm, an early virtual reality and esports tech center was opened. Its model combines virtual reality, esports, STEM tutoring and corporate VR training to create an LBE model that is sustainable. Steve Founded Victory Enterprises in 1997 and built the first websites for the cities of Davenport, Moline and Eldridge. In 1999, Steve founded VictoryStore.com, which has grown to be an umbrella organization for more than 25 eCommerce sites. VictoryStore.com has been recognized by Internet Retailer magazine as one of the largest eCommerce stores in the United States. Steve served as Chairman of the Young Presidents Organization international technology network. This network had more than 3,000 tech CEO's as members. Steve also served previously as an Iowa legislator from ‘90-’96 and in that capacity, was chair of the House Education Committee which passed the state’s first technology funding bill. 2:14 Steve’s intro and values: always an entrepreneur 8:53 VR simulator and scenario training for job safety 12:18 Applications to social services, etc. 18:14 Why VR is the most effective tool for learning 21:18 VR tech success stories 24:31 Steve’s unique model for supporting new tech and investors 27:01 Are entrepreneurs born or made? 38:30 Upbringing 43:29 Biggest mentors and best lessons Connect with Gary Rabine and DDCEO: Visit the DDCEO BLOG: https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ Follow DDCEO on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DitchDiggerCEO Like DDCEO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DitchDiggerCEO Follow DDCEO on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DitchDiggerCEO Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh03Px5ez_xe_oE_iJMMNIg

Check out https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ for this week's TOP 8 Business Growth strategies and subscribe to our newsletter to download Gary’s 13 Keys to Creating a Multi-Million Dollar Business. Follow us on Instagram @DitchDiggerCEO (https://www.instagram.com/ditchdiggerceo/) for more helpful Business Growth tips. Our goal is to inspire everyone to start their own business and help you grow it to millions or even billions in value so if you feel any benefit from this episode please let us know by leaving an iTunes review, sharing this episode on social media and emailing a link to anyone you think would also find benefit here. Thank you. Scott Robinson (www.rrgexec.com) has 35 years of experience in the human capital industry. After founding and leading the largest full-service human resources firm in the Midwest, Scott returned to his entrepreneurial roots to launch Robinson Resource Group, where he now continues to serve as a trusted advisor to executives in the C-Suite. Scott is certified by the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches as a Registered Corporate Coach™-one of fewer than 1000 such certified Coaches worldwide. He is also a member of the Institute of Coaching Professional Association at McLean Hospital—a Harvard Medical School affiliate and is certified in the Hogan Assessment and the full suite of MRG assessment tools. In addition to serving on several BODs, Scott is highly active in many business organizations including The Executives’ Club of Chicago (ECC), the Young Presidents Organization (YPO Gold), the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) and the ESOP Association. 2:30 Executive coaching and executive search 6:00 It’s all about the culture fit 24:20 Effective extrication from a direct management to a high-level leadership position 29:43 How to prep for future executive success 30:40 One company’s culture fit is another company’s NOPE 40:10 How Scott’s small-town upbringing informed his values 48:00 Relationship building as marketing; customer service is king 52:00 Transition from Counseling to Coaching & one essential ingredient for success: a supportive partner 1:1:30 Understanding what motivates your employees and clients 1:11:20 Never underestimate the power of a great Executive Assistant and a great team Connect with Gary Rabine and DDCEO: Visit the DDCEO BLOG: https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ Follow DDCEO on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DitchDiggerCEO Like DDCEO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DitchDiggerCEO Follow DDCEO on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DitchDiggerCEO Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh03Px5ez_xe_oE_iJMMNIg

Check out https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ for this week's TOP 8 Business Growth strategies and subscribe to our newsletter to download Gary’s 13 Keys to Creating a Multi-Million Dollar Business. Follow us on Instagram @DitchDiggerCEO (https://www.instagram.com/ditchdiggerceo/) for more helpful Business Growth tips. Our goal is to inspire everyone to start their own business and help you grow it to millions or even billions in value so if you feel any benefit from this episode please let us know by leaving an iTunes review, sharing this episode on social media and emailing a link to anyone you think would also find benefit here. Thank you. Bruce Leon is the founder and CEO of Tandem HR (www.tandemhr.com). Tandem is a Chicago-based professional employer organization that prides itself on its customized human resource solutions. Tandem provides high-touch, tailored HR solutions in payroll, benefit administration, people management, risk management and organizational development. Bruce Leon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruce-leon-23601311/ 5:30 - Bruce’s childhood - don’t get caught up in 11:45 - Lost mother when he was 19 15:00 - Life is a roller coaster 24:00 - Starting an HR company 36:00 - 2 to 100 employees “Billion in payroll” 40:30 - Biggest differentiators 46:00 - The world’s greatest mailman. 51:30 - Where do you go from here? Steve Jobs story 56:00 - Developing people from within 1:03:30 - Dash in the middle 1:04:30 - Could you have built this company anywhere else? 1:14:00 - When people ask you advice  Connect with Gary Rabine and DDCEO: Visit the DDCEO BLOG: https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ Follow DDCEO on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DitchDiggerCEO Like DDCEO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DitchDiggerCEO Follow DDCEO on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DitchDiggerCEO Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh03Px5ez_xe_oE_iJMMNIg

Check out https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ for this week's TOP 8 Business Growth strategies and subscribe to our newsletter to download Gary’s 13 Keys to Creating a Multi-Million Dollar Business. Follow us on Instagram @DitchDiggerCEO (https://www.instagram.com/ditchdiggerceo/) for more helpful Business Growth tips. Our goal is to inspire everyone to start their own business and help you grow it to millions or even billions in value so if you feel any benefit from this episode please let us know by leaving an iTunes review, sharing this episode on social media and emailing a link to anyone you think would also find benefit here. Thank you. Michael Crafton (@MichaelCrafton2) is the President and CEO of Nelbud Services Group, a life safety services company he founded in 2005 with $800 and built into a global leader with more than 20 locations and over 30,000 recurring customers.  Michael has successfully steered Nelbud through (2) private equity buyouts, multiple buy-side acquisitions, and engineered numerous change management style company transformations over the past 15 years.  Michael has pioneered several industry leading technology platforms that have helped enhance the organization and position itself as a luxury brand.  Michael has a B.S. in Business from Indiana University, is very active in numerous community organizations, and an avid traveler. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-crafton/ + http://instagram.com/michaelcrafton2) 3:00 How Michael developed his work ethic 6:45 Who instilled money management in you? 8:45 Never missed practice, but never once looked at a playbook. 12:15 80% of success is showing up 15:15 How important is a friend group for your career/business? 17:15 Value of Networking 18:45 Michael’s business story 25:30 Million dollar lessons from entry level jobs 39:00 Mindset to stay motivated 41:30 Maintaining valuable relationships 52:00 Future of Nelbud? 55:45 How did you come up with CHAPTERS? 58:00 Growth and differentiation 1:02:00 How to avoid chasing shiny objects 1:05:00 Delivering value to customers 1:11:30 Fix what’s wrong instead of firing 1:17:30 Could you have done this in any other country? Connect with Gary Rabine and DDCEO: Visit the DDCEO BLOG: https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ Follow DDCEO on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DitchDiggerCEO Like DDCEO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DitchDiggerCEO Follow DDCEO on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DitchDiggerCEO Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh03Px5ez_xe_oE_iJMMNIg

Check out https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ for this week's TOP 8 Business Growth strategies and subscribe to our newsletter to download Gary’s 13 Keys to Creating a Multi-Million Dollar Business. Follow us on Instagram @DitchDiggerCEO (https://www.instagram.com/ditchdiggerceo/) for more helpful Business Growth tips. Our goal is to inspire everyone to start their own business and help you grow it to millions or even billions in value so if you feel any benefit from this episode please let us know by leaving an iTunes review, sharing this episode on social media and emailing a link to anyone you think would also find benefit here. Thank you. Sylvie Légère is the co-founder and President of The Policy Circle (http://www.thepolicycircle.org), a national grassroots network with a mission to educate, inspire and develop community leaders. Equipped with facts, policy circle women get involved in the governance of their communities, and assert their voices into dialogs on the impact of public policy on creativity and entrepreneurship. Sylvie spent her career in technology program management, including infrastructure and learning technologies, at firms such as Accenture, TD Ameritrade, and JP Morgan Chase. She was the co-owner of a bicycle shop, and is also an investor in start-ups committed to connecting people from vulnerable communities to jobs. Sylvie earned an undergraduate degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Ottawa, Canada, and a Master’s in Computer Science with a specialization in the Learning Sciences from Northwestern University, in Evanston, Illinois. 5:00 Sylvie’s childhood; father was a politician 11:55 First job at Accenture 15:35 Problem solving 18:04 STEM and going into computer science 21:49 “Raise your gaze” - [Elise Stefanik] 23:37 Gary worked in a factory during winters 27:11 Knowing your industry 28:21 7 habits of highly effective people 34:50 The Policy Circle starting Fact-based articles so you can engage in a discussion Gives you the tools to affect your community Technology widens the gap 48:13 Policy Library: over 300 circles; busy women 52:56 Finding the middle ground 55:30 The goal of The Policy Circle: eliminate conflict and focus on facts 1:01:20 Mentors / DiSC is most valuable tool 1:05:48 3500 members 1:11:11 Talked to JCN 1:15:28 Could you do this in any other country? 1:17:31 Quinton’s true takeaways Connect with Gary Rabine and DDCEO: Visit the DDCEO BLOG: https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ Follow DDCEO on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DitchDiggerCEO Like DDCEO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DitchDiggerCEO Follow DDCEO on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DitchDiggerCEO

Mark Kaufman (@Athltcoguy) is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Athletico Physical Therapy a leading provider of outpatient physical and occupational therapy. Athletico offers the highest quality orthopedic rehabilitation services to communities, employers and athletes in over 500 locations throughout 12 states. He attended the University of Iowa, receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training and Physical Education in 1986. In 1988, Kaufman obtained an M.S. in Exercise and Sports Sciences from the University of Arizona, and in 1989 he earned his B.S. in Physical Therapy from Northwestern University. Athletico employs over 5000 clinical and administrative staff and offers over 50 specialty programs and services. The growth of Athletico’s outreach programs has mirrored the advancement of their patient care. Athletico remains very much a close-knit, caring place to work, where a strong work ethic, commitment to continuing education, and dedication to superior customer service and community service are highly valued. Twitter  Instagram  LinkedIn  Facebook Check out www.DitchDiggerCEO.com for this week's TOP 8 Business Growth strategies and subscribe to our newsletter to download Gary’s 13 Keys to Creating a Multi-Million Dollar Business. Follow us on Instagram @DitchDiggerCEO for more helpful Business Growth tips. Our goal is to inspire everyone to start their own business and help you grow it to millions or even billions in value so if you feel any benefit from this episode please let us know by leaving an iTunes review, sharing this episode on social media and emailing a link to anyone you think would also find benefit here. Thank you.  2:45 Getting to know Mark Kaufman and Athletico Physical Therapy  5:455 Mark Kaufman’s memories growing up in Iowa  13:45 How Mark’s parents shaped his work ethic   15:15 How Mark developed his work experience   18:15 Mark and wrestling  23:15 Mark’s career in sports   28:15 Starting a career in Physical Therapy   31:30 Mark’s Big Fat Greek Wedding   32:45 Differentiation  39:45 Athletico’s equity structure   42:30 When the right person does not work out   48:00 Scaling Athletico   53:10 Acquisions, core values, and how to grow your company  1:05:0 Athletico now   1:07:15 How Mark inspires his team  1:12:10 Mark’s 10-year vision  1:20:00 Physical Therapy and technology  1:25:15 Athletico during the pandemic   1:29:00 Mark’s interests   Connect with Gary Rabine and DDCEO:  Visit the DDCEO BLOG Follow DDCEO on Instagram Like DDCEO on Facebook Follow DDCEO on Twitter Subscribe on YouTube

Peter Kozodoy (@PeterKozodoy) is a TEDx speaker, author of Honest to Greatness: How Today's Greatest Leaders Use Brutal Honesty to Achieve Massive Success, and serial entrepreneur, currently serving as the CEO of Stradeso and the Partner/Chief Strategy Officer of GEM Advertising. Peter’s largest business has appeared on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies in America, and his articles on business, leadership, and entrepreneurship have appeared in Inc., Forbes, The Huffington Post and more. He holds a BA in Economics from Brandeis University and an MBA from Columbia Business School. In this episode we talk about how Peter got started in the business, building his first company, and how he defined his own success. Website: https://peterkozodoy.com/about Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeterKozodoyOfficialPage Twitter: https://twitter.com/peterkozodoy Check out https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ for this week's TOP 8 Business Growth strategies and subscribe to our newsletter to download Gary’s 13 Keys to Creating a Multi-Million Dollar Business. Follow us on Instagram @DitchDiggerCEO (https://www.instagram.com/ditchdiggerceo/) for more helpful Business Growth tips. Our goal is to inspire everyone to start their own business and help you grow it to millions or even billions in value so if you feel any benefit from this episode please let us know by leaving an iTunes review, sharing this episode on social media and emailing a link to anyone you think would also find benefit here. Thank you. 2:15 Getting to know Peter Kozodoy 6:45 Peter’s childhood 9:15 Peter’s first business 13:30 Realizing what success meant for him 17:45 How Peter changed his business principles 23:15 How Peter hires the right people 29:30 Stradeso - Peter’s new business 33:15 Peter’s other businesses 37:00 Peter’s differentiation 42:15 Peter’s plans for the future 45:15 Getting to know Peter beyond the business 47:00 The reason behind Stradeso Connect with Gary Rabine and DDCEO: Visit the DDCEO BLOG: https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ Follow DDCEO on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DitchDiggerCEO Like DDCEO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DitchDiggerCEO Follow DDCEO on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DitchDiggerCEO

PJ Taei (@pjtaei) is a video monetization expert obsessed with creating a profitable space for creators, instructors and educators. After founding, growing and selling his first company, WebNet hosting, he founded Uscreen, a video monetization platform with clients like iChuze, Vida, Fitness Connection and more. In this episode, PJ talks about his family background, growing his first business, and his dedication to his newest company, Uscreen. He also talks about the value of handling feedback, and how he found growth in the midst of a pandemic. Check out https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ for this week's TOP 8 Business Growth strategies and subscribe to our newsletter to download Gary’s 13 Keys to Creating a Multi-Million Dollar Business. Follow us on Instagram @DitchDiggerCEO (https://www.instagram.com/ditchdiggerceo/) for more helpful Business Growth tips. Our goal is to inspire everyone to start their own business and help you grow it to millions or even billions in value so if you feel any benefit from this episode please let us know by leaving an iTunes review, sharing this episode on social media and emailing a link to anyone you think would also find benefit here. Thank you. 5:00 Getting to know PJ 7:30 PJ’s immigration story 8:30 How PJ started his first business 11:15 Selling his first business 12:30 Going all in and starting UScreen 20:00 Growing in the midst of a pandemic 22:00 How Uscreen works 26:15 PJ’s learnings growing uscreen 29:45 Focusing on that feedback loop 34:15 Differentiating from competitors 37:15 Uscreen’s core values 38:30 PJ’s vision for Uscreen 40:45 PJ’s mentors 44:15 PJ’s hopes for his future Connect with Gary Rabine and DDCEO: Visit the DDCEO BLOG: https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ Follow DDCEO on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DitchDiggerCEO Like DDCEO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DitchDiggerCEO Follow DDCEO on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DitchDiggerCEO Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh03Px5ez_xe_oE_iJMMNIg

As executive chairman of ESD, Raj Gupta leads the company's mission to Improve Society Through the Built Environment. He works on long-term initiatives to support the company’s future, including the expansion of career development paths for employees, promotion of the ESD brand and corporate governance. He champions ESD's embrace of globalization and positions the firm to compete in our digital economy. He nurtures ESD’s unique culture and advances its values: respect everyone, work hard and play to win. In this episode, Raj talks about his journey to success. From the humble beginnings with his parents working for their American Dream, to facing two financial crisis, a pandemic, and innovating their company to the success that it is today. https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajpgupta/ Check out https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ for this week's TOP 8 Business Growth strategies and subscribe to our newsletter to download Gary’s 13 Keys to Creating a Multi-Million Dollar Business. Follow us on Instagram @DitchDiggerCEO (https://www.instagram.com/ditchdiggerceo/) for more helpful Business Growth tips. Our goal is to inspire everyone to start their own business and help you grow it to millions or even billions in value so if you feel any benefit from this episode please let us know by leaving an iTunes review, sharing this episode on social media and emailing a link to anyone you think would also find benefit here. Thank you. 6:00 Getting to know Raj 9:00 Raj’s take on failing and failures 14:15 Raj’s family business and how Raj started 23:15 Differentiate or die 28:30 Raj’s education 31:15 Your children joining the family business 36:45 Visionaries in the business 41:30 Raj’s views on mentorship and leadership 47:15 Raj’s three core values 53:15 Applying your company’s culture and values 57:15 Raj’s toughest times in business 1:04:00 Improving indoor air quality 1:13:00 Raj’s company Cohesion 1:18:45 Raj’s take on partnerships Connect with Gary Rabine and DDCEO: Visit the DDCEO BLOG: https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ Follow DDCEO on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DitchDiggerCEO Like DDCEO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DitchDiggerCEO Follow DDCEO on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DitchDiggerCEO Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh03Px5ez_xe_oE_iJMMNIg

Eva Yazhari (@beyondcapital) is the CEO of Beyond Capital, an impact investment organization that believes investing is a mind-set that can inspire good and improve the lives of impoverished communities. Throughout her career, Yazhari has worked in the impact investment, finance, and asset management industries.  Eva founded The Conscious Investor, a weekly magazine that sheds light on the world of impact investing. Eva is the co-host of the Beyond Capital Podcast. She speaks to audiences about the Power of Impact Investing. Eva graduated from Barnard College, Columbia University with a B.A. in Mathematics. Eva lives in Dallas, TX with her family and when possible travels often to Los Angeles, London and Zurich. In this episode, Eva talks to us about her experience growing up in the art community, her educational life and career, and her amazing journey putting up Beyond Capital and making an impact while investing in sustainable startups from across the world. www.beyondcapitalfund.org www.theconsciousinvestor.com www.beyondcapitalpodcast.com www.evayazhari.com https://www.instagram.com/beyondcap/ https://twitter.com/BeyondCapital https://www.linkedin.com/in/eva-yazhari/ Our goal is to inspire everyone to start their own business and help you grow it to millions or even billions in value so if you feel any benefit from this episode please let us know by leaving an iTunes review, sharing this episode on social media and emailing a link to anyone you think would also find benefit here. Thank you. 5:45 Getting to know Eva 9:15 Growing up an only child in the art community 12:30 Eva’s school life 16:30 The mentors in Eva’s career 18:30 Making the transition from hedge fund to impact investor 21:30 Starting Beyond Capital 30:45 Beyond Capital’s community partners 43:15 Eva’s core values 55:30 Eva’s vision for the future Connect with Gary Rabine and DDCEO: Visit the DDCEO BLOG: https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ Follow DDCEO on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DitchDiggerCEO Like DDCEO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DitchDiggerCEO Follow DDCEO on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DitchDiggerCEO Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh03Px5ez_xe_oE_iJMMNIg

Michael Brody-Waite (@mikebrodywaite) joins us to discuss how a life of Rigorous Authenticity can lead to genuine leadership, improved team effectiveness, and higher overall success.  His Mask-Free Program, a system built on three principles inspired by his recovery from drug addiction, lays out a system that anyone can follow for concrete results. Michael Brody-Waite is an award-winning CEO, tech-startup entrepreneur and recovering drug addict. In 2009, Brody-Waite left a Fortune 50 company to co-found and lead InQuicker, a healthcare SaaS company that allows patients to self-schedule appointments. His leadership grew the organization exponentially and landed InQuicker a spot on the Inc. 500 list of Fastest Growing Private Companies. In 2015, InQuicker was sold to a publicly traded company. In the time since InQuicker went public, Brody-Waite has made a name for himself as an untraditional leadership coach. He credits his success to the tools he learned in the 12-step program, and now teaches others how to lead his Mask-Free Program. His unique views are captured in his TEDx Talk, “Great Leaders Do What Drug Addicts Do,” which has been viewed more than one million times. Brody-Waite’s first book, Great Leaders Like Drug Addicts, is now available for purchase. https://michaelbrodywaite.com/ http://greatleadersbook.com/ Instagram: @michaelbrodywaite Twitter:@mikebrodywaite Facebook:@michaelbrodywaite Check out https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/for this week's Top 8 Business Growth strategies and subscribe to our newsletter to download Gary’s 13 Keys to Creating a Multi-Million Dollar Business. Follow us on Instagram @DitchDiggerCEO (https://www.instagram.com/ditchdiggerceo/) for more helpful business growth tips. Our goal is to inspire everyone to start their own business and help you grow it to millions or even billions in value so if you feel any benefit from this episode please let us know by leaving an iTunes review, sharing this episode on social media and emailing a link to anyone you think would also find benefit here. Thank you. 1:58 - Leading through rigorous authenticity 11:06 - From kiosk to corporate 17:09 - Authentic leadership means asking for help 22:57 - Seeking authenticity 24:03 - The mask addiction 24:56 - Three principles 30:03 - Looking for the problem 30:48- The job interview question 45:55 - How do you implement change? 57:40 - Partnering with other companies 1:01:41 - When it’s good to have a low authenticity score 1:06:31 - Giving back 1:16:24 - Creating a mask-free world 1:29:10 - Authentic leaders go first 1:30:12 - A valuable teammate calls you out Connect with Gary Rabine and DDCEO:  https://www.ditchdiggerceo.com/ Follow DDCEO on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DitchDiggerCEO Like DDCEO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DitchDiggerCEO Follow DDCEO on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DitchDiggerCEO  Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh03Px5ez_xe_oE_iJMMNIg

Check out https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ for this week's TOP 8 Business Growth strategies and subscribe to our newsletter to download Gary’s 13 Keys to Creating a Multi-Million Dollar Business. Follow us on Instagram @DitchDiggerCEO (https://www.instagram.com/ditchdiggerceo/) for more helpful Business Growth tips. Our goal is to inspire everyone to start their own business and help you grow it to millions or even billions in value so if you feel any benefit from this episode please let us know by leaving an iTunes review, sharing this episode on social media and emailing a link to anyone you think would also find benefit here. Thank you. Chris Joyce (@dealrules) is the founder of 24 companies in high tech, consumer goods, health, and manufacturing. His products have been sold in more than 11,000 stores in 23 countries, with users in 148 countries across the globe. His newest venture is Gusher: the simple, quick, and easy way to create and build a startup without the need for investors or capital. Gusher helps Entrepreneurs create and launch startups using time equity. Everything from technology, media, and health to design, finance, and gaming. If you have a great idea and need the expertise of others to help bring it to life, Gusher can help. Go to the Gusher site and get started: www.gusher.co   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dealrules/   7:30 - Lessons you learn from early entrepreneurial experience 10:00 - How dealing with $#^! makes you stronger  19:30 - Why building a business from scratch is better training than college  21:20 - Exposure is everything  30:00 - Riding the low-carb coaster  34:10 - Why you should never build on someone else’s trend  40:30 - VIM for vigor: identifying your Vested Interest Market  44:00 - Can you really succeed with nothing but a great idea and great people?  52:10 - What ties together all successful entrepreneurs  1:01:00 - Confidence and gender inequality   1:03:30 - Do what you know, and teach your kids that  1:09:50 - Why you should never kill ideas & never give up  1:13:20 - The most effective way to increase sales right now  1:30:50 - Rob’s Takeaways   Connect with Gary Rabine and DDCEO: Visit the DDCEO BLOG: https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ Follow DDCEO on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DitchDiggerCEO Like DDCEO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DitchDiggerCEO Follow DDCEO on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DitchDiggerCEO Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh03Px5ez_xe_oE_iJMMNIg

Ann Hiatt (@AnnRHiatt) received her initial business training during 15 years as the Executive Business Partner to Jeff Bezos (CEO of Amazon) and Chief-of-Staff to Eric Schmidt (CEO and Executive Chairman at Google/Alphabet). Ann now consults with executives and companies across the globe to reverse engineer their moonshot goals and get results. Ann is a sought-after international speaker and is on several advisory boards. Ann has recently relocated from Silicon Valley to Europe and brings with her a unique perspective on what it takes to succeed in business today. In this episode, we talk to Ann about her amazing career with Amazon and Google. She describes her journey from her early years to becoming a name in leadership and management after working with Jeff Bezos and Eric Schmidt. Now, she manages her own consulting firm and shares to us her learnings and experiences in leadership and striving to be a better CEO. http://www.annhiatt.co https://www.instagram.com/annhiatt/ https://twitter.com/AnnRHiatt https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-hiatt/ 1:45 Who is Ann Hiatt? 09:06 Ann’s ‘interview’ for Amazon 14:06 Is grit a factor in getting hired? 15:55 How Ann’s father’s military background help shape her 24:36 Working in Amazon 27:12 Ann’s biggest challenge at Amazon 29:55 Women leaders 35:11 Ann’s Book 37:11 What make these great CEOs and Leaders great? 40:41 Being the dumbest person in the room and leadership 46:34 Always being challenged 51:18 What’s Ann Hiatt doing now? 1:01:59 Ann’s experience doing business in Europe 1:05:25 AI needs in companies 1:12:29 Ann’s Moonshot mindset 1:16:28 Smart people with no egos are a recipe to success 1:22:31 Robbie’s take on Ann’s career and journey 1:25:21 Talent is distributed equally, but opportunity is not 1:29:20 Diversity in tech 1:32:11 The value in risk-taking Connect with Gary Rabine and DDCEO: Visit the DDCEO BLOG: https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ Follow DDCEO on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DitchDiggerCEO Like DDCEO on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/DitchDiggerCEO Follow DDCEO on Twitter:https://twitter.com/DitchDiggerCEO Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh03Px5ez_xe_oE_iJMMNIg

Brent is the co-founder and CEO of Savant Capital Management, a nationally ranked wealth management firm that manages over 8 billion in assets for 6000 clients and employs over 200 professionals and team members. Brent earned degrees in finance and economics and an MBA from Northern Illinois University. He is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®), and an Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst® (AIFA®). He is a member of the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO) and serves on the boards of the Northern Illinois University Foundation and the Rock Valley College Foundation. Chicago magazine named Brent as the #1 independent financial advisor in Chicagoland. He represents Savant on the Barron’s Hall of Fame as one of the nation’s top financial advisors for over 10 years.  He was also ranked by Forbes as the #40 top wealth advisor in the nation. Brent’s passions are being an entrepreneur, drinking wine, and spending time with his family at his lake home in Lake Geneva, WI! Website: https://www.savantcapital.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/savantweets LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/savant-capital-management/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SavantCapital 05:30- The Brodeski family council 07:50 - How education creates confidence 09:00 - Extroversion can be learned 30:15 - Synergy can be strategized 33:00 - Why you need systems and structures 37:00 - The value of hiring subject matter experts  46:00 - Growing without the pains 51:00 - Creating a master playbook by combining the best of all involved 53:58 - Core values are non-negotiable 59:15 - How to hire like a boss 1:08:30 - Robbie’s take-aways Connect with Gary Rabine and DDCEO: Visit the DDCEO BLOG: http://ditchdiggerceo.com/ Like DDCEO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DitchDiggerCEO Follow DDCEO on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DitchDiggerCEO Follow DDCEO on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DitchDiggerCEO Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh03Px5ez_xe_oE_iJMMNIg/featured?view_as=subscriber

Check out https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ for this week's TOP 8 Business Growth strategies and subscribe to our newsletter to download Gary’s 13 Keys to Creating a Multi-Million Dollar Business. Follow us on Instagram @DitchDiggerCEO (https://www.instagram.com/ditchdiggerceo/) for more helpful Business Growth tips. Our goal is to inspire everyone to start their own business and help you grow it to millions or even billions in value so if you feel any benefit from this episode please let us know by leaving an iTunes review, sharing this episode on social media and emailing a link to anyone you think would also find benefit here. Thank you. Anthony G. “Ozzie” Giglio is CEO/Dealer Principal of Windy City Motorcycle Company (WCMC). Ozzie’s experience has run the gamut. He was active duty USN, where he served four tours in the middle east as part of a special ops team focused on counter intel and counter terrorism. He’s now a captain in the Navy Reserve. He holds a JD and is barred in Illinois and Texas. He practiced corporate law, but transitioned to financial services, where he worked on transactions and acquisitions, including real estate. This teed him up for success as the CEO of Windy City Real Estate Group and the eventual acquisition of 10 Harley Davidson dealerships. He founded WC-F with his wife, Jill, in 2000 and they now have 18 locations and employ over 400 people. https://youtu.be/d1PBIBTZsJ4 https://bizcasthq.com/cxo/ozzie-giglio/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/windy-city-motorcycle-company/ 3:35 - Ozzie’s family values: hard work and education 13:30 - The value of maturity and doing things on your own schedule 16:50 - What you learn as an intrepid entrepreneur without a safety net 20:00 - What you learn in the military: leadership, discipline, and the commitment to team 35:30 - Leadership lessons from the military 37:30 - Starting a business after 9/11 49:50 - Developing a network to defeat a network 54:30 - Why growth matters to you, your employees, and your customers 56:40 - How to create a sense of ownership among your employees 1:02:35 - What it’s like to build a family later in life 1:12:10 - How the COVID crisis is driving innovation 1:24:00 - There’s no place like the U.S.A. 1:32:30 - Rob’s takeaways Connect with Gary Rabine and DDCEO: Visit the DDCEO BLOG: http://ditchdiggerceo.com/ Like DDCEO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DitchDiggerCEO Follow DDCEO on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DitchDiggerCEO Follow DDCEO on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DitchDiggerCEO Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh03Px5ez_xe_oE_iJMMNIg/featured?view_as=subscriber

Check out https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ for this week's TOP 8 Business Growth strategies and subscribe to our newsletter to download Gary’s 13 Keys to Creating a Multi-Million Dollar Business. Follow us on Instagram @DitchDiggerCEO (https://www.instagram.com/ditchdiggerceo/) for more helpful Business Growth tips. Our goal is to inspire everyone to start their own business and help you grow it to millions or even billions in value so if you feel any benefit from this episode please let us know by leaving an iTunes review, sharing this episode on social media and emailing a link to anyone you think would also find benefit here. Thank you. Robert Blackwell, Jr is the founder of Quant16 as well as a successful entrepreneur and former trader. He also founded Killerspin, the world’s leading table tennis engagement brand. The Killerspin experience reaches hundreds of thousands of people annually in over 160 countries around the world. Robert has served on many civic boards over the course of his career, and he currently serves the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Civic Federation of Chicago, Business Leadership Council as well as being on the executive committee to Choose Chicago.   http://robertblackwelljr.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-blackwell-jr-4218023/   2:00 - How do people go from poverty to prosperity?  15:30 - The advantage of growing up without money  22:15 - Robert’s long-time friendship with former president Barack Obama  25:30 - Why Robert sold his car to use ride share services exclusively  26:30 - Robert’s life-changing visit to West Africa  34:30 - Learnings from the ‘87 market crash  45:30 - Robert’s formula for decision making  49:30 - Killerspin’s company values  52:30 - Investing in ongoing economic opportunities for those with special needs  54:00 - Lagniappe: a little something extra you weren’t expecting  56:30 - What’s next for Robert and Killerspin?  1:02:30 - Why you should have an innovation budget   1:08:30 - Quantitative analysis vs. quantum computing  1:18:35 - You can get mentorship by reading, listening, and watching  1:19:05 - Rob’s takeaways   Connect with Gary Rabine and DDCEO: Visit the DDCEO BLOG: https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ Follow DDCEO on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DitchDiggerCEO Like DDCEO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DitchDiggerCEO Follow DDCEO on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DitchDiggerCEO Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh03Px5ez_xe_oE_iJMMNIg

Daniel Porcaro has spent the past 33 years growing and developing four companies.  Growing companies is his passion.  Dan grew all the companies mostly through organic growth with very few acquisitions.  He is passionate about long-term revenue and profit growth through the development and execution of a strategic plan and the development of a strong culture. Currently, Dan is the Managing Partner of Porcaro Stolarek Mete Partners LLC (known as PSM Partners).  Founded in January of 2015, PSM offers IT consulting and talent acquisition services to small and mid-sized firms in the Chicago area.  As of January 2020, PSM employed 73 consultants and 300 clients.  Dan started the firm with his Partners and close friends Mike Mete and Dave Stolarek to grow PSM into the firm it is today.  PSM certainly would not have been nearly as successful without them. From 1998 through 2012, Dan founded and ran Project Leadership Associates (PLA).  PLA was a business and technology consulting firm headquartered in Chicago.  With five practice areas -network integration, managed services, software development, business intelligence, and business strategy, PLA was unique for its size.  Starting with one employee, Dan grew PLA to 265 people, 50 million in revenue, and 6 offices across the country.  PLA was one of the most profitable, successful firms of its type in the country.  PLA also had a ten-year period where voluntary turnover was less than 2%.  Additionally, Dan is proud to say that PLA never lost money in any month of its existence under his tenure.  Dan sold PLA in 2012 to a private equity firm. Prior to founding PLA, Dan was a partner in Workgroup Productivity Corporation (WPC).  WPC was a Lotus Notes consulting firm.  Dan was asked to join WPC as an equity partner to grow the firm, nationalize its services, and find a buyer.  He accomplished the growth plan over a 3- year period (growing revenues by 65%) and found a buyer for the firm.  After this transaction, Dan left to start PLA. Prior to WPC, Dan was an Executive Director and Partner at Lansystems.  Headquartered out of NY, Lansystems was a nationwide network integration firm with an east and west coast presence.  Dan started the central region for Lansystems and quickly grew it from 2 to 60 employees while becoming the most profitable region in the country for the firm.  Lansystems was sold in 1994. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-porcaro-8540391/  Website: https://www.myefbc.com/board-staff/dan-porcaro/ 4:27 - What’s more important growing up: loving support or a strong entrepreneurial role model?   4:58 - Leadership: learned or innate?   11:47 - The importance of being well-rounded as a leader  17:21 - Learning from others’ mistakes  36:08 - What makes for a solid business strategy  45:03 - How to bake sales success into a company’s culture  49:16 - What really motivates employees (spoiler: it’s not the money)  1:02:55 The difference between growing a company you plan to sell vs. one you plan to keep  1:07:53 Can you pandemic-proof a business?  1:11:44 The positives of partnership  1:13:44 How culture interacts with earnings growth 1:15:36 Incubating new businesses  1:21:11 Rob’s take-aways Connect with Gary Rabine and DDCEO:   Visit the DDCEO BLOG: http://ditchdiggerceo.com/   Like DDCEO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DitchDiggerCEO  Follow DDCEO on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DitchDiggerCEO   Follow DDCEO on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DitchDiggerCEO  Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh03Px5ez_xe_oE_iJMMNIg/featured?view_as=subscriber

Check out https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ for this week's TOP 8 Business Growth strategies and subscribe to our newsletter to download Gary’s 13 Keys to Creating a Multi-Million Dollar Business. Follow us on Instagram @DitchDiggerCEO (https://www.instagram.com/ditchdiggerceo/) for more helpful Business Growth tips. Our goal is to inspire everyone to start their own business and help you grow it to millions or even billions in value so if you feel any benefit from this episode please let us know by leaving an iTunes review, sharing this episode on social media and emailing a link to anyone you think would also find benefit here. Thank you. Marc Randolph (@thatwillneverwork) is a veteran Silicon Valley entrepreneur, advisor, and investor. Marc was co-founder of Netflix, serving as their founding CEO,  the executive producer of their web site, and a member of their board of directors. Although best known for starting Netflix, Marc’s career as an entrepreneur spans more than four decades.  He has founded or co-founded more than half a dozen other successful start-ups, mentored rising entrepreneurs—including the co-founders of Looker Data, which was recently sold to Google for $2.6B—and invested in numerous successful tech ventures. He is a frequent speaker at industry events, works extensively with young entrepreneur programs, sits on the board of the environmental advocacy group 1% for the Planet, and chairs the National Outdoor Leadership School’s Board of Trustees. Website: https://www.marcrandolph.com/ Twitter: @mbrandolph Instagram: @thatwillneverwork Facebook: @marcbrandolph / https://www.facebook.com/marcbrandolph/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcrandolph 2:00 -  How Marc and his family became risk-encouraging—and how this set him up for success 12:30 - Influential entrepreneurs Marc has worked with and how that shaped his experience 22:00 - Netflix now vs. its humble beginnings and the beauty of startups 25:00 - What if Blockbuster had bought Netflix? 26:30 - The role of mentorship 36:45 - Culture and vision 1:00:45 - American exceptionalism and success  Connect with Gary Rabine and DDCEO: Visit the DDCEO BLOG: https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ Follow DDCEO on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DitchDiggerCEO Like DDCEO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DitchDiggerCEO Follow DDCEO on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DitchDiggerCEO Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh03Px5ez_xe_oE_iJMMNIg

David Hassell (@dhassell)  is a serial entrepreneur, business columnist, and  speaker who believes that when leaders support employees in becoming  their best selves, high engagement and performance and uncommon loyalty  naturally result. As co-founder and CEO of 15Five, David and his  team have developed industry-leading people management software that  helps build phenomenal cultures via a suite of features including  check-ins, OKR tracking, 1-on-1s, and peer appreciation. While  at 15Five, David created the science-inspired Best-Self Management  methodology that helps leaders address hidden factors that stimulate  sustainable growth and development – things like intrinsic motivation,  strengths, and psychological safety. By practicing Best-Self Management  and using 15Five internally, they have experienced near-zero attrition,  rapid growth, and awards like ranking #3 on Glassdoor’s Best Places to  Work. David was named “The Most Connected Man You Don’t Know in  Silicon Valley” by Forbes Magazine, and has also been featured in The  Wall Street Journal, Inc., and Fast Company. https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidhassell/ https://www.15five.com/story/ https://medium.com/@dhassell https://www.instagram.com/dhassell/ 3:25 - Entrepreneurship as a form of rebellion 6:15 - The importance of continuity and creating something beyond yourself 7:55 - Life in “beige cubicle land” 10:25 - Why “surfing the net” isn’t really a thing any more 16:04 - Why you need both passion AND profit to thrive 18:25 - How helping others and adding value helps you succeed 23:13 - Why some companies succeed where others fail 25:35 - Why “best-self management” is more effective than performance management 26:25 - The inspiration behind fifteen/five reports: “Sorry, Yvonne [the CEO of Patagonia] is out surfing.” 35:35 - Company relational mastery: what it is and how to achieve it 48:47 - The future of work is collaborative Connect with Gary Rabine and DDCEO: Visit the DDCEO BLOG: https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ Follow DDCEO on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DitchDiggerCEO Like DDCEO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DitchDiggerCEO Follow DDCEO on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DitchDiggerCEO Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh03Px5ez_xe_oE_iJMMNIg

Check out https://www.DitchDiggerCEO.com/ for this week's TOP 8 Business Growth strategies and subscribe to our newsletter to download Gary’s 13 Keys to Creating a Multi-Million Dollar Business. Follow us on Instagram @DitchDiggerCEO (https://www.instagram.com/ditchdiggerceo/) for more helpful Business Growth tips. Our goal is to inspire everyone to start their own business and help you grow it to millions or even billions in value so if you feel any benefit from this episode please let us know by leaving an iTunes review, sharing this episode on social media and emailing a link to anyone you think would also find benefit here. Thank you. BONNIE LOW-KRAMEN (@BonnieLowKramen) is an international thought leader, speaker, bestselling author, and the founder and CEO of Ultimate Assistant Training. A celebrity assistant for 25 years to Oscar winner Olympia Dukakis, Bonnie is an award-winning speaker who empowers staff and executives alike to build ultimate partnerships that are both mutually respectful and profitable. She teaches the BTUA workshop all over the world and in fact, Gary’s EA Debbie Furlano has taken this class. Her work was featured in a Forbes 2019 cover story and her book, Be the Ultimate Assistant, is a must-have resource for every assistant. Bonnie is passionately committed to ending workplace bullying and closing the wage gap as her way to build confident and courageous women in the world. In 14 countries and 38 states, Bonnie's gift is the ability to guide the humans of our workforce toward meaningful transformations that they feel on a visceral level and coming to solutions together that stand the test of time. Website: https://www.bonnielowkramen.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bonnie.Low.Kramen Twitter: https://twitter.com/BonnieLowKramen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonnielowkramen/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiOX60cn5nY&feature=emb_logo 11:15 Childhood impacts your whole career 15:00 The real value of great assistants 18:15 Bonnie’s team and her organization 22:00 Empowering the minority demographic 22:45 Finding and revealing greatness in others 52:45 Establishing/defining core values and respecting employees 1:04:45 Human beings just want autonomy Connect with Gary Rabine and DDCEO: Visit the DDCEO BLOG: http://ditchdiggerceo.com/ Like DDCEO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DitchDiggerCEO Follow DDCEO on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DitchDiggerCEO Follow DDCEO on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DitchDiggerCEO Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh03Px5ez_xe_oE_iJMMNIg/featured?view_as=subscriber