Growth Think Tank

Not every founder is meant to be the CEO of their company. Going from founder to CEO takes new skillsets, and some founders aren't willing to do the work. Today's guest is Joel Trammell, founder and CEO at Khorus Software. Khorus provides a software-based management system for CEOs to optimize the performance and alignment of their organizations. Joel and I discuss the challenges of going from founder to CEO. This transition gives many founders trouble, mainly due to blind spots. Joel shares his ideas about going from founder to CEO so you can make the shift. Get the show notes for The Challenges Going from Founder to CEO with Joel Trammell at Khorus Software Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #JoelTrammell with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttJoelTrammell #GoingfromFoundertoCEO #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode826 #GTTepisodes #Inc2021 Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Cultural transformation is more straightforward when the company is smaller. As the company grows, any changes in culture can be complicated. Today's guest is Brittany Burns, CEO at Simpler Trading. Inc Magazine ranked his company #3856 on the 2021 Inc 5000 list. Simpler Trading, assembled a team of successful trading experts knowledgeable in Options, Stocks, Forex, and Futures with over 100 years of combined market experience to create effective trainings to help you improve your trades. Brittany talks about cultural transformation and how it relates to company growth. We talk about leadership's job in growth. This story is a powerful example of cultural transformation that allows you behind the scenes. Get the show notes for Cultural Transformation to Drive Growth with Brittany Burns at Simpler Trading Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #BrittanyBurns with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttBrittanyBurns #CulturalTransformation #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode825 #GTTepisodes #Inc2021 #TransformationalLeadership Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Lots of things can get in the way of company growth. The time to improve employee engagement is worth it because people are the path to scaling. Today's guest is Labinot Avdiu, CEO at Medication Management Partners. Inc Magazine ranked his company #4791 on the 2021 Inc 5000 list. Medication Management Partners, is a pharmacy service providing medication management solutions to assisted living, memory care, and behavioral health facilities. Labinot gives you insights on how to improve employee engagement. He shares what comes before engagement. If you are on a journey to improve employee engagement, this is the episode for you. Get the show notes for Improve Employee Engagement With Core Values with Labinot Avdiu at Medication Management Partners Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #LabinotAvdiu with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttLabinotAvdiu #ImproveEmployeeEngagement #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode824 #GTTepisodes #Inc2021 #MedicationManagementSolutions Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Most entrepreneurs are so focused on executing their strategy that they don't think much about expanding their leadership capacity. Becoming the best leader you can be is one of the most critical paths to success. The journey to be the best leader is filled with fulfillment too. Today's guest is Jordan Passman, CEO and Founder at Score a Score. Inc Magazine ranked his company #4930 on the 2020 Inc 5000 list. Score a Score, is a music company specializing in original music for global advertising, including ad campaigns and movie trailers. Jordan shares his journey to becoming the best leader he can be. We look at what gets in the way of leadership. Check out my invitation to become the best leader you can be. Get the show notes for Becoming the Best Leader You Can Be with Jordan Passman at Score-a-Score Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #JordanPassman with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttJordanPassman #BestLeader #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode823 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #Inc2021 #MusicCompany Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

You have likely heard the adage of "hiring slow." Well, it is still working now, just as it always has. Even with the markets being employee-driven, hiring slow is essential. Today's guest is Tanner Milne, President & Founder at Menlo Group Commercial Real Estate. Inc Magazine ranked his company #4973 on the 2021 Inc 5000 list. Menlo Group Commercial Real Estate is a full-service commercial real estate brokerage that services the industrial, retail, child care, and general, medical and dental office markets in the metropolitan Phoenix area. Tanner and I look at why hiring slow is still vital to company growth. He shares with you the process they use and why it works. Get the show notes for Hiring Slow and Firing Fast with Tanner Milne at Menlo Group Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #TannerMilne with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttTannerMilne #HiringSlow #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode822 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #Inc2021 #CommercialRealEstateBrokerage Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Company core values may seem trivial to companies. However, being a values-driven organization is a big part of how successful companies scale effectively. Today's guest is Brian Hudson, Senior Vice President at Avant Healthcare Professionals. Inc Magazine ranked his company #3074 on the 2021 Inc 5000 list. Avant Healthcare Professionals is a health care staffing specialist providing internationally educated registered nurses, physical therapists and occupational therapists. Brian shares his insights on being a values-driven organization. He gives you strategies and explains why this is so important. Discover new ways your company can be values-driven.

One idea that is often debated is how to focus your company in the right direction. I am a firm believer in creating a niched company. It aligns people, processes, and products to one audience. I have helped many companies grow fast with this one strategy. Today's guest is Tim Brown, Founder and CEO at Hook Agency. Hook Agency create compelling websites for people and drive traffic through Search Engine Optimization)and conversion through Conversion Rate Optimization. Tim was a client of mine that embraced the idea of a niched company. It took a while to transition to a niched company, but the success he has had of late is impressive. We look at strategies that he used to get there. Get the show notes for Leading the Journey to a Niched Company with Tim Brown at Hook Agency Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #TimBrown with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttTimBrown #NichedCompany #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode819 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #SEO #SmallBusinessMarketing Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Many strategies define an organization. None is more critical in the long term than improving your culture. Leaders who understand the power of culture will tell you that creating an environment for supportive and challenging employees is essential. Today's guest is Matthew Greer, CEO/CTO at Digital Marketing Services. Inc Magazine ranked his company #4374 on the 2021 Inc 5000 list. Digital Marketing Services, Inc. specializes in the deployment of Market Asset Management Systems (MAMS) that automate the tedious tasks found in a marketing department. Matthew and I share the strategies for improving your culture to get your people ready for growth. When you get the right culture, your job as a leader will be so much easier. But let me be direct improving your culture will challenge every part of your leadership capabilities. Get the show notes for Improving Your Culture with Matthew Greer at Digital Marketing Services Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #MatthewGreer with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttMatthewGreer #ImprovingYourCulture #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode818 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #Inc2021 #MarketAssetManagementSystems Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

The shifts in the last eighteen months due to work from home have changed the minds of millions. Flexibility at work is not a strategy; it is a must in the future of work. Today's guest is Tom Shea, CEO at OneStream Software. Inc Magazine ranked his company #1527 on the 2021 Inc 5000 list. OneStream provides seamless integration with SAP ERP systems. Tom takes on the hot topic of today, which is flexibility at work. We discuss why this is not a trend but a way of life. Tune in to understand how to make flexibility at work benefit the company and the employee. Get the show notes for Driving Flexibility at Work in Today's Workplace with Tom Shea at OneStream Software Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #TomShea with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttTomShea #FlexibilityAtWork #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode817 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #Inc2021 #FinancialDataQuality Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Every leadership book agrees on one fundamental idea. The values of the company must be front and center every day. You may hear them say "operationalize your values" or "living your values," either way, they are essential. Today's guest is Jeff Oskin, CEO at Forcivity. Inc Magazine ranked his company #359 on the 2021 Inc 5000 list. Forcivity is a full-service Salesforce Implementation and ISV partner, who can help you with anything from simple implementation to complex architecture. Jeff and I have a deep look at the values of the company and how they work to unite the team. When you have a values-driven organization, you have a more aligned group. Jeff believes wholeheartedly in the power of living the values of the company. Get the show notes for The Values of the Company are the Glue that Binds Us at Jeff Oskin at Forcivity Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #JeffOskin with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttJeffOskin #ValuesoftheCompany #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode816 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #Inc2021 #ISVpartner Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

You don't just hire people to do some work if you want to grow fast. You need buy-in from employees that is deeper than just the trade of time for money. Today's guest is Daniel Catullo, Chief Customer Officer and Co-founder at Perishable Shipping Solutions. Inc Magazine ranked his company #177 on the 2021 Inc 5000 list. Perishable Shipping Solutions provides temperature-controlled e-commerce order fulfillment services for foods and beverages. Daniel gives you the strategies of getting buy-in from employees. We talk about the importance of this idea. Daniel has proven that buy-in from employees is a considerable part of company growth. Get the show notes for Get Full Buy-in from Employees to Serve Your Customers with Daniel Catullo at Perishable Shipping Solutions Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #DanielCatullo with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttDanielCatullo #BuyinFromEmployees #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode815 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #Inc2021 #FulfillmentServices Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Culture is more than a business buzzword. Discover how you can improve the personality of the company in this interview. Today's guest is Marc Betesh, CEO and Founder at Visual Lease. Inc Magazine ranked his company #941 on the 2021 Inc 5000 list. Visual Lease brings together powerful tools and expert services to help you handle complex scenarios and take advantage of every opportunity. Marc gives us why he believes culture is the personality of the company. We look beyond the normal aspects of culture. Get the show notes for Culture is the Personality of the Company with Marc Betesh at Visual Lease Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #MarcBetesh with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttMarcBetesh #PersonalityOfTheCompany #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode814 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #Inc2021 #LeaseManagement Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Growth is a by-product of other things working inside our businesses. Those other things are not always clear to leaders. I have seen companies that make company core values a central part of the business grow faster than their peers. Values drive growth because they align people. Today's guest is Steve McQuin, Co-Founder, President and CIO at FarWell. Inc Magazine ranked his company #4732 on the 2021 Inc 5000 list. FarWell provides project execution services while being strategically prepared to manage and sustain change. Steve gives us his perspectives on why values drive growth. Discover the unique approaches they use to align people to their company core values. Get the show notes for Why Values Drive Growth with Steve McQuin at Farwell Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #SteveMcQuin with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttSteveMcQuin #ValuesDriveGrowth #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode813 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #Inc2021 #CoreValues Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

The journey of every start-up takes many turns. Not all of them will be successful. Since this podcast is dedicated to growth and leadership, our special guest is an expert on both. Today we have Alisa Cohn, the author of Start-Up to Grown-Up, published by Kogan Page. She is named a top start-up coach. We have a ton in common, so this interview is so much fun. Alisa is wicked smart and shares actionable insights in this interview. Her book, Start-Up to Grown-Up, is fantastic. Join us for a unique conversation on leadership for start-ups. Get the show notes for From Start-Up to Grown-Up with Alisa Cohn Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #AlisaCohn with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttAlisaCohn #Startup #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode812 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #BestSellingAuthor #GlobalCEOCoach Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Businesses are struggling to find talented people and retain the right people. Great company cultures attract and keep the right people. Today's guest is Brian Mize, President at Ad Victoriam Solutions. Inc Magazine ranked his company #2880 on the 2021 Inc 5000 list. Ad Victoriam is a Salesforce® and MuleSoft® Partner that provides multi-cloud consulting services, from strategy to implementation. Brian believes that great company cultures drive growth. The techniques that work for culture are sometimes counter-intuitive. Discover how great company cultures create new opportunities. Get the show notes for Great Company Cultures Drive Impact in Many Ways with Brian Mize at Ad Victoriam Solutions Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #BrianMize with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttBrianMize #Great Company Cultures #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode811 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #IncList2021 Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Most leaders would likely say that customers are more important than employees. I have read the books that tell you that a customer-first strategy is what works. However, fast-growth companies operate differently. They believe in putting employees first. Today's guest is Sean McGraw, Founder at FOR Energy. Inc Magazine ranked his company #1982 on the 2021 Inc 5000 list. FOR Energy is a full-service residential energy company serving Arizona, Nevada, Florida, New Jersey, and South Carolina. They help homeowners reduce their energy costs through solar power and energy efficiency. Sean shares his reasons why putting employees first drives growth. Discover the shifts he made that have made the most significant impact in terms of putting employees first. Get the show notes for Putting Employee-First is Everything with Sean McGraw at FOR Energy Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #SeanMcGraw with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttSeanMcGraw #PuttingEmployeesFirst #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode810 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #IncList2021 Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Every business goes through difficult times. Leading through challenges is part of the job. Discover the strategies that will help you be a more effective leader. Today's guest is Steve Latham, CEO and Founder at Banyan Hills Technologies. Inc Magazine ranked his company #4651 on the 2020 Inc 5000 list. Banyan Hills Technologies is an IoT company and a trusted partner for innovative software solutions. Steve gives you his strategies when leading through challenges. We look at what happens during the hard moments of leadership. This interview will help you when you are leading through challenges. Get the show notes for Leading Through Challenges with Steve Latham at Banyan Hills Technologies Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #NourBaki with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttSteveLatham #LeadingThroughChallenges #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode809 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #IncList2021 #IoTCompany Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

To invest or not invest. Investing in your people is a big decision. The real issue here is that it depends on where you are in the growth of your company. But for nearly all of the companies I see, they must be investing the right way. When you are investing in your people, you want to make sure it is more than just traditional training that gets certifications and technology tools. Today's guest is Nour Baki, Co-Founder at Instafuel. Inc Magazine ranked his company #1298 on the 2021 Inc 5000 list. Instafuel is the most innovative way to improve efficiency and increase profitability within your fleet. Nour gives his reasons for investing in your people. We look beyond the traditional methods companies are doing it. Get the show notes for Investing in Your People to Fuel Growth with Nour Baki at InstaFuel Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #NourBaki with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttNourBaki #InvestingInYourPeople #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode808 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #IncList2021 #MobileFuelingServices Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

The future of work has changed. Most organizations will never go back to 100 percent back to the office. It would help if you learned the power of leading a hybrid team. Today's guest is Bill Austin, President at Bill Austin & Associates. Inc Magazine ranked his company #4124 on the 2020 Inc 5000 list. Bill Austin & Associates, Provides system engineering services for heavy-duty systems, which is also called information engineering. Bill shares how he is leading a hybrid team during today's challenges. We discuss the key elements of accountability with remote workers. When you understand leading a hybrid team, you have a better chance of leading your company to the next level. Get the show notes for Leading a Hybrid Team with Bill Austin & Associates Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #BillAustin with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttBillAustin #LeadingAHybrid #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode807 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #IncList2021 #SystemEngineering Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Great leaders have intentional strategies for talent attraction. In today's war for talent, you have to get ahead of other employers. It takes more than just more money. Talent attraction and development are essential if you want to compete for the best and brightest. Today's guest is Brad Ebenhoeh, Managing Partner at Accountfully. Inc Magazine ranked his company #1819 on the 2021 Inc 5000 list. Accountfully is your fully outsourced accounting team. Brad shares his strategies for talent attraction and development. We discuss what it takes to create a place where great people are seeking out your company. Brad will tell you the things he learned the hard way too. Get the show notes for Talent Attraction and Development with Brad Ebenhoeh at AccountFully Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #BradEbenhoeh with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttBradEbenhoeh #TalentAttraction #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode806 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #IncList2021 #OutsourcedAccountingFirm Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Innovation that comes from the top will be limited. Companies that can embrace forward-thinking at all levels will have innovation from everyone. Leaders that want more innovation must see the power of forward-thinking. Today's guest is Steve Thies, CEO at Integrated Biometrics. Inc Magazine ranked his company #2043 on the 2021 Inc 5000 list. They have made this list six consecutive times. Integrated Biometrics designs and produces the world's most mobile and reliable FBI-certified fingerprint sensors. Steve gives his perspective on creating a workplace filled with forward-thinking. We look at innovation and how to inspire it across the organization. Forward-thinking is an essential part of how this company has continued to grow. Get the show notes for Innovative Workplace Demand A Culture of Forward Thinking with Steve Thies at Integrated Biometrics Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #SteveThies with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttSteveThies #ForwardThinking #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode805 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #IncList2021 #Biometrics Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Coaching has become a powerful part of personal growth and that has created massive company growth as well. However, many people wonder if they should hire a coach and end up doing nothing about it. It can be confusing. It is not inexpensive (and that is a good thing). Join the fun as I get honest with a friend and fellow coach. Today's guest is John Patrick Morgan. He is a coach to entrepreneurs and other coaches. John Patrick's background is deep coaching to transform clients truly. We have similar approaches in engaging clients, so this will be very interesting. We discuss why you may not want to hire a coach. We discuss the problems with standard approaches to coaching that might not serve you. John Patrick and I dive into the rarely discussed journey to hire a coach that gets many leaders tripped up. Get the show notes for Why You Probably Shouldn't Hire a Coach with John Patrick Morgan at Creating Company Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #JohnPatrickMorgan with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttJohnPatrickMorgan #HireACoach #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode804 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #IncList2021 Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Growth requires an intentional focus on the right things. One big part of that is living the company's core values. Some leaders take it even further with a concept called weaponizing core values. Today's guest is Justin Holland, President and CEO and Founder at HealthJoy. Inc Magazine ranked his company #142 on the 2021 Inc 5000 list. HealthJoy integrates a client's existing benefits to deliver each employee a personalized digital benefits wallet that keeps benefits top-of-mind. Justin shares with you his strategies for weaponizing core values that have profoundly impacted his company and its growth. We share the importance of living values in today's interview. Get the show notes for Weaponizing Core Values to Align Operations with Justin Holland at HealthJoy Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #JustinHolland with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttJustinHolland #WeaponizingCoreValues #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode803 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #IncList2020 Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Being an entrepreneur requires continuous learning. Embracing the identity of being an evolving leader will pull you to constant improvement. Today's guest is Todd Walsh, CEO at Alpha Cubed Investments. Inc Magazine ranked his company #2689 on the 2020 Inc 5000 list. Alpha Cubed Investments is an independent, SEC-registered investment advisory company. The firm offers income, balanced, and growth portfolios and custom portfolios, primarily utilizing individual stocks and bonds with some ETFs (exchange-traded funds). Todd talks about the benefits of the evolving leader. We look at why it is so important. The journey of the evolving leader will give you a long-term advantage. Get the show notes for The Ever Evolving Leader with Todd Walsh at Alpha Cubed Investments Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #ToddWalsh with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttToddWalsh #EvolvingLeader #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode802 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #IncList2020 Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Leadership is more than a role. Those that have risen the ranks of companies may believe that leadership is about finally making it. But the reality, it takes more than most leaders are willing to give to becoming a leader worth following. Today's guest is David Bezar, Senior Managing Director at Thrive Financial Services. Inc Magazine ranked his company #1503 on the 2021 Inc 5000 list. Thrive Financial is a client-first, independent, wealth management firm. David talks about what it takes to become a leader worth following. We look at various parts of leadership. David also shares what often gets in his way. Discover what it takes to become a leader worth following. Get the show notes for Become a Leader Worth Following with David Bezar at Thrive Financial Services Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #DavidBezar with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttDavidBezar801 #BecomeALeaderWorthFollowing #1Inc5000 #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode801 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #IncList2020 Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

What does it take to be Inc's Fastest-Growth Company? Well, it is more than just a great idea at the right time. The fastest growth company is one that can attract and retain talented people. They also know how to develop those people to drive growth. Today's guest is Geetesh Goyal, Chairman & CEO at Human Bees. Inc Magazine ranked this company #1 on the 2021 Inc 5000 list. Human Bees, are a nation-wide recruiting company specialized in placing engineers, IT professionals, manufacturing personnel, and admin/professional support. Human Bees has a mission to provide businesses with a unique solution to staffing needs and help people find jobs that are right for them. Geetesh shares his perspectives on scaling up a company. We look at the journey of the fastest growth company in this year's Inc 5000 list of privately held companies. This is a VERY special episode. We have published 800 since the beginning of this podcast. Get the show notes for Special 800th Episode - The Fastest-Growth Company on the 2021 Inc 5000 list - Human Bees with founder Geetesh Goyal Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #GeeteshGoyal with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttGeeteshGoyal #FastestGrowthCompany #1Inc5000 #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode800 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #IncList2020 Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

The stress of being a CEO of a growing company is comprised of pressure-filled moments. When it builds up, the answer is not to quit. You might consider the leader's sabbatical. Taking intentional time away from the business and disconnecting from the day-to-day will give you perspective. Today's guest is Sam Eitzen, CEO, and Co-Founder at Snapbar. Inc Magazine ranked his company #473 on the 2019 Inc 5000 list. SnapBar has evolved over the years and now creates unique experiences for event attendees using technology in unique ways. Sam walks us through the pressures he was experiencing before he realized he needed a leader's sabbatical. The signs may not have been clear, but eventually, he needed to look at his priorities differently. The leader's sabbatical may be something that you need in the future. Get the show notes for The Journey of a Leader's Sabbatical with Sam Eitzen at SnapBar Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #SamEitzen with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttSamEitzen799 #Leader'sSabbatical #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode799 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #IncList2020 Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

At times founders of companies will find themselves out of alignment. Just like with a tire alignment on your car's suspension. You need to have regular founder alignment conversations. Sometimes it is about strategy forward. Founder alignment can also be about the deeper issues that plague company growth. Over the years, I have facilitated many conversations with founders to keep founder alignment in check. In today's behind the scenes, we look at what often gets in the way of founder alignment. Get the show notes for Founder Alignment is Essential to Company Alignment - Behind the Scenes Click to Tweet: Listening to an amazing episode on Growth Think Tank - Behind the Scenes @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttep798 #FounderAlignment #BehindTheScene #GeneHammettPodcast #Leadership #GHepisode798 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #CompanyCulture Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Fast companies tend to have in common the focus on leading with core values in mind. They make their values front and center. Discover why leading with core values is not something you can ignore. Today's guest is Chris Hurn, Founder, and CEO at Fountainhead Commercial Capital. Inc Magazine ranked his company #1221 on the 2021 Inc 5000 list. They made this list three consecutive times. Fountainhead is a nationwide, nonbank commercial lender specializing in helping small to midsize businesses finance their growth. Chris shares why leading with core values is essential for growing companies. We look at how the company operationalizes its values. Learn how leading with core values will change how your company aligns with the work. Get the show notes for Leading with Your Core Values - 3 Ss with Chris Hurn at Fountainhead Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #ChrisHurn with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttChrisHurn #LeadingWithCoreValues #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode797 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #IncList2020 Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

There may be a day in the future you want to sell your company. You will want to make sure you are getting the most for it. One term to add to your understanding is "value acceleration." Today's guest is Dave Clayman, Co-Founder, and CEO at Twelve Points Wealth Management. Inc Magazine ranked his company #869 on the 2020 Inc 5000 list. Twelve Points Wealth Management LLC provides wealth management services. Dave teaches us about value acceleration through the lens of a potential buyer. We look at one of the most missed aspects in leadership if you want to sell your company eventually. Value acceleration is not something you can make happen quickly — it takes time to get these things right. Get the show notes for Value Acceleration before Planning Your Exit with David Clayman at Twelve Points Wealth Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #DavidClayman with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttDavidClayman #ValueAcceleration #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode796 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #IncList2020 Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Every leader faces challenges. The nature of the role requires them to face leadership decisions with confidence and courage. With over ten years of working with high-level executives and entrepreneurs, I have noticed that leadership decisions often require you to avoid the easy path. When you face a challenge, you always have options. In today's episode, we see how you can see those options and make the right leadership decisions. Get the show notes for Leadership Decisions Often Require You to Take the Hard Path - Behind the Scenes Click to Tweet: Listening to an amazing episode on Growth Think Tank - Behind the Scenes @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttep795 #LeadershipDecisions #BehindTheScene #GeneHammettPodcast #Leadership #GHepisode795 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #CompanyCulture Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Many believe leaders must put customers first. However, fast-growth company founders and CEOs believe in employee-first focus. This is a very different approach to scaling a business. Putting employees first allows them to take care of the customers because they know leadership is taking care of them. Today's guest is Cory Brymer, Founder, and CEO at BryComm. Inc Magazine ranked his company #3803 on the 2020 Inc 5000 list. BryComm, a leader in delivering technology solutions, specializing in the design, installation, service, and maintenance of network infrastructure. Cory provides a deep understanding of why leaders must have an employee-first focus. He outlines the strategies he has used to build a culture of owners. The idea of employee-first focus is usually a threat to the traditional customer first that many leaders embrace. Get the show notes for Employer First Focus Impact on the Bottomline with Cory Brymer at BryComm Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #CoryBrymer with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttCoryBrymer #EmployeeFirstFocus #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode794 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #IncList2020 Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

The ups and downs of entrepreneurship are not for everyone. The journey to scale a business requires many skills and evolving mindset. Join us for this climb of building a business. Today's guest is Bob Fraser, Founder, and Principal at Aspen Funds. Inc Magazine ranked his company #2436 on the 2021 Inc 5000 list. Aspen Income Fund is a residential mortgage fund designed to provide current income for investors, along with the potential for capital gains. Bob has had quite a ride on his journey to scale. We look at the challenges he faced and the heights he has reached. The journey to scale is part of the entrepreneurial ride. Get the show notes for The Journey to Scale and Losing it all with Robert Fraser at Aspen Funds Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #RobertNetzly with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttRobertFraser #JourneytoScale #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode793 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #IncList2020 Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Being a mission-driven company requires that you integrate it into the daily functions of the company culture. Let's look at using your company's mission to change the vibe of the culture. I share with you a simple strategy that allows you to repeat your mission without actually repeating it. Using your company mission in a way that creates unity will improve the company culture. Get the show notes for Using Your Company Mission to Align the Hearts of Your People - Behind the Scenes Click to Tweet: Listening to an amazing episode on Growth Think Tank - Behind the Scenes @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttep789 #UsingYourCompanyMission #BehindTheScene #GeneHammettPodcast #Leadership #GHepisode792 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #CompanyCulture Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Every company wants to hire the best employees. In our current economy, attracting talented people is one of the biggest challenges they face. There is no easy fix, but the process of attracting talented people is a competitive advantage. Today's guest is Robert Netzly, President and CEO at Inspire Investing. Inc Magazine ranked his company #1136 on the 2020 Inc 5000 list. Inspire Investing is a leading innovator in the biblically responsible investing (BRI) movement, providing low-cost, high-impact BRI solutions to institutions, advisors, and investors to inspire transformation for God's glory throughout the world. Robert gives us his strategy to attracting talented people. He provides the simple approaches that have worked as they have scaled up their company. Get the show notes for Attracting Talented People with Your Company Mission with Robert Netzly at Inspire Investing Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #RobertNetzly with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttRobertNetzly #AttractingTalentedPeople #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode791 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #IncList2020 Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Getting employees to go beyond responsibility is the dream of many leaders. Great companies intentionally encourage employees to think like owners. My research with fast-growth companies has uncovered the concept of leaders inspiring their people to feel like owners. Today's guest is Dean Owen, President at M Dean Owen CPA. Inc Magazine ranked his company #2841 on the 2020 Inc 5000 list. M Dean Owen CPA, is a mid-size regional CPA firm focusing on small businesses and upper-income families, providing full range accounting, tax, and wealth management services. Dean shares why employees must think like owners. When employees look at their role as more than just a job, they are committed to the results and goals. When they think like owners, they can overcome the challenges they encounter. Get the show notes for Leading People to Think Like Owners with Dean Owen at M. Dean Owen CPA Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #DeanOwen with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttDeanOwen #ThinkLikeOwners #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode790 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #IncList2020 Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Leaders will all agree that they want more loyal employees. The strategy for loyalty is extraordinary leadership. In other words, leaders must learn the skill of inspiring people to walk through walls for them. In today's behind-the-scenes video, you look at inspiring people to be loyal. You will discover the two essential elements that increase loyalty. Learn how inspiring people is not as hard as you think. Get the show notes for Inspiring People to Walk Through Walls - Behind the Scenes Click to Tweet: Listening to an amazing episode on Growth Think Tank - Behind the Scenes @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttep789 #Inspiring People #BehindTheScene #GeneHammettPodcast #Leadership #GHepisode789 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Communication is one of the most critical aspects of leadership and company culture. Fast-growth companies tend to agree that transparent communication is a driving factor to their growth. Leaders that embrace openness and inclusive strategies are perceived to be better leaders. Today's guest is Igor Epshteyn, CEO at Coherent Solutions. Inc Magazine ranked his company nine consecutive times on the Inc 5000 list. Coherent Solutions is a software product development and consulting company that solves customer business problems by bringing together global expertise. Igor shares why transparent communication is essential in today's leadership. We look at the common breakdowns in communication and how to overcome them. Discover the power of transparent communication in this interview. Get the show notes for Leadership Requires Transparent Communication with Igor Epshteyn at Coherent Solutions Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #IgorEpshteyn with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttIgorEpshteyn #TransparentCommunication #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode788 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #IncList2020 Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Company values are essential to fast-growth companies. Many fast-growth companies know hiring and firing by core values is part of their success. Leaders have to be intentional about living by their values. Today's guest is Alex Parker, Managing Partner at CAP Venture Group. Inc Magazine ranked his company #1675 on the 2020 Inc 5000 list. Alex's company assists clients in buying and selling homes through its low-stress home transactions. We look at how the company has stressed the importance of hiring and firing by core values. Then, Alex gives us a view inside his fast-growth company so you can improve your leadership. Get the show notes for Beyond Hiring and Firing by Core Values with Alex Parker at CAP Venture Group Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #AlexParker with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttAlexParker #firingbycorevalues #corevalue #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode787 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #IncList2020 Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Leadership requires you to execute plans, be strategic, and effectively communicate the vision. But the real work of leadership is when it comes to people. Leaders also must be skilled at managing the tensions of the people that are expected to do more with less. They have to find alignment in a sea of chaos. Managing tensions requires you to be a great listener and an even better coach. You will struggle if your strategy is telling people what to do. In this behind-the-scenes episode, you will get context to managing tensions to help you be a better leader. Get the show notes for Leaders Often Resist Managing Tensions - Behind the Scenes Click to Tweet: Listening to an amazing episode on Growth Think Tank - Behind the Scenes @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttep786 #ManagingTensions #BehindTheScene #GeneHammettPodcast #Leadership #GHepisode786 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

The demand for talent seems to be heating up. The brightest people don't want just a job and a paycheck. They want to be part of a mission. Great leaders know the value of empowering brand ambassadors. Today's guest is Sheryl Hunter, attorney and founder at Hunter Business Law. Inc Magazine ranked his company #4200 on the 2021 Inc 5000 list. The company has made the Inc list for three consecutive years. Hunter Business Law is The Entrepreneur's Law Firm. Sheryl and I talk about the value of empowering brand ambassadors. We look at how employees want to have a voice. Sheryl knows the talented employees on her team are very capable of telling the company story. Empowering brand ambassadors across the company gives your people new ways to contribute and add value. Get the show notes for Empowering Brand Ambassadors to Grow the Company with Sheryl Hunter at Hunter Business Law Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #SherylHunter with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttSherylHunter #empoweringbrandambassadors #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode785 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #IncList2020 Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Fast-growth companies want employees taking ownership. It is not enough for employees to get the work done. They want them to feel like owners. This is common theme across many companies. Employees taking ownership maximizes the customer experience. Today's guest is Meghan Freed, attorney and co-founder at Freed Marcroft. Inc Magazine ranked her company #2024 on the 2020 Inc 5000 list. Freed Marcroft is a marital and family law in Hartford, Connecticut. Meghan believes in employees taking ownership of their work and the client experience. She shares how leadership didn't come easy, but she found it essential for a growing company. When employees taking ownership is a priority, you get a very different kind of company culture. Get the show notes for Employees taking ownership of the Work with Meghan Freed and Kristen at Freed Marcroft Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #MeghanFreed #KristenMarcroft with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttMeghanFreedKristenMarcroft #employeestakingownership #GHepisode784 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #IncList2020 Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Al innovation requires Informed risk-taking. Leaders often encourage employees to bring more creative ideas to work. When you have a culture of informed risk-taking, you have people pushing the boundaries of results. Today's behind-the-scenes video is all about employees being courageous and resilient. Discover how you can lead more informed risk-taking across your teams. Get the show notes for Leading Your Team to Embrace Informed Risk-taking - Behind the Scenes Click to Tweet: Listening to an amazing episode on Growth Think Tank - Behind the Scenes @GeneHammett http://bit.ly/gtt783 #InformedRisktaking #BehindTheScene #GeneHammettPodcast #Leadership #GHepisode783 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Every company contains a mixture of generations. Leaders often feel frustrated in finding alignment with different thinking from generation Z, Y, X, and to the Baby Boomers in today's workforce. Great leaders know the power of inspiring generational leadership that creates unity. Today's guest is DeLinda Forsythe, CEO and founder at Innovative Commercial Environments (ICE). Inc Magazine has ranked her company seven times on the Inc 5000 list since 2013. ICE is San Diego's most creative office and hospitality furniture dealership headquartered in Sorrento Valley. DeLinda shares her expertise on inspiring generational leadership. We look at the common and uncommon approaches you have to understand in today's world of many generations. The art of inspiring generational leadership will help you be a better leader. Get the show notes for Inspiring generational leadership with DeLinda Forsythe at Innovative Commercial Environments Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #DeLindaForsythe with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttDeLindaForsythe #inspiringgenerationalleadership #generationZYX #GHepisode781 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #IncList2020 Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Managing down has been the most typical approach to leadership over the last century and beyond. Managing down is based on authority, power, and even fear. Telling your people what to do is one behavior of managing down. Today, we look at managing up. In organizations where people are empowered and take ownership of their work, managing up makes that happen. In this episode, you will get new perspectives on the power of managing up that is common for fast-growth companies. Get the show notes for Managing Up vs Managing Down – Behind the Scenes Click to Tweet: Listening to an amazing episode on Growth Think Tank - Behind the Scenes @GeneHammett http://bit.ly/gtt780 #ManagingUp #ManagingDown #BehindTheScene #GeneHammettPodcast #Leadership #GHepisode780 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

We all feel the stressors of work, family, and the unknown. After last year, leading through uncertainty is a given. Leaders must do more with less information. Today's guest is Carey Lohrenz who is a former lieutenant in the U.S. Navy who was the second fully qualified female naval aviator to fly the F-14 Tomcat in the U.S. military. Carey is a professional speaker and author of Fearless Leadership. Carey provides her insight on leading through uncertainty with stories that will inspire you. We discuss the modern principles of leadership to help you be a stronger leader. Given the pressures of today's chaos, leading through uncertainty is more important than ever. Get the show notes for Leading through Uncertainty Requires You to Be Fearless with Carey Lohrenz Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #CareyLohrenz with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttCareyLohrenz #leadingthroughuncertainty #GeneHammettPodcast #GHepisode779 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #IncList2020 Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Founders love to get deeply involved in the company. However, there comes a time when you have to take a different approach. Modern leaders like to have hands-off leadership. Today's guest is Peter Ranzino, President at Learning Services. Inc Magazine ranked his company #535 on the 2020 Inc 5000 list. Learning Sciences, L.L.C. is a Louisiana-based learning and development company specializing in the deployment of web-based learning and management systems. Peter and I talk about hands-off leadership to empower the people. He shares how he approaches it so you can be a better leader. Discover why hands-off leadership creates long-term growth. Get the show notes for Handsoff Leadership is Not Lazy Leadership with Peter Ranzino at Learning Sciences Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #PeterRanzino with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttPeterRanzino #HandsoffLeadershipisNotLazyLeadership #hands-offleadership #GHepisode778 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #IncList2020 Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Every leader has to get comfortable with tough conversations. The challenge of these conversations is not the talking. It is the fear and resistance that comes up that stops you from initiating the chat. Today we look at the energy shift in difficult conversations that can remove your resistance. This is a simple mindset transformation. The energy shift in difficult conversations will make it easier to get over the friction. Get the show notes for The Energy Shift in Difficult Conversations - Behind the Scenes Click to Tweet: Listening to an amazing episode on Growth Think Tank - Behind the Scenes @GeneHammett http://bit.ly/gtt777 #DifficultConversations #BehindTheScene #GeneHammettPodcast #Leadership #GHepisode777 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

When you want to evolve as a leader, you have to push beyond the traditional. Leaders often get caught up in the title, authority, and power of leadership. Beyond all that is the selfless leader. This is about how to put others before your own needs. Today's guest is Grant Botma, Founder at Stewardship. Inc Magazine ranked his company #1932 on the 2020 Inc 5000 list and #1918 in 2019. Stewardship guides people through mortgages, insurance, financial planning, and investments. Grant gives you his journey of becoming a selfless leader. We look at the enemies of being a selfless leader. Get the show notes for Beyond Traditional Management Strategies to Become a Selfless Leader with Grant Botma at Stewardship Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #GrantBotma with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttGrantBotma #BeyondTraditionalManagementStrategiestoBecomeaSelflessLeader #selflessleadership #GHepisode776 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #IncList2020 Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!

Business leaders often forget to honestly care about the people that have committed to work together. Creating a culture of caring may sound touchy-feely. The truth is our companies are scaling because of people. Your job as a leader is to care about each person. Today's guest is Chris Grandpre, co-founder at Conserva Irrigation Franchising. Inc Magazine ranked his company #633 on the 2020 Inc 5000 list and #2099 in 2019. This eco-smart company leads the industry and provides money-saving services to property owners nationwide. Chris and I discuss the power of a culture of caring. We share how caring impacts leadership and culture. A culture of caring will also help you improve your business because people show up for more than just a paycheck. Get the show notes for Creating a Culture of Caring with Chris Grandpre at Outdoor Living Brands Click to Tweet: Listening to a fantastic episode on Growth Think Tank featuring #ChristopherGrandpre with your host @GeneHammett https://bit.ly/gttChristopherGrandpre #CreatingaCultureofCaring #cultureofcaring #GHepisode775 #GTTepisodes #Podcasts #IncList2020 Give Growth Think Tank a review on iTunes!