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To become a leader, first get ready to do the grunt work Shay Howe is a man of many talents and has helped build some of the best-known tech companies in the Midwest, including Groupon, Belly and Codecademy. But before he became a leader in the field, he was a kid just out of college, living in Chicago, unsure of how to build his career. But, as a group of like-minded developers started to organize a Refresh Chicago meetup, Shay volunteered to not only take part, but do the little things that organizers didn’t have time for. This meant showing up and being reliable while doing things like setting out the chairs for the audience, and ordering way too much pizza. And, as you’ll hear in this story, that dedication to the little things is what changed his entire career. Midwestern values lead to prizing the ability to lead honestly and with integrity Shay grew up in Ohio (no offense, Michiganders), the son of two educators who never quite took to education himself. He tells the story of how when he struggled with spelling, his mother would spray shaving cream on the kitchen table, and have him carve out the letters in the foam, to make learning fun for him. His father taught and worked a side business as an athletic trainer, which showed him how to work hard and pursue what you love. Shay credits his dad’s work ethic, and his mother’s creative teaching style that put student first, with his approach to his own career in development. Sometimes you don’t need business school, you just need to play in a band In high school, Shay played in a band and quickly learned that if you don’t look out for the business side of music, people will try to pay you in free drinks and snacks. He took over the management of the band, booking shows and ensuring they got paid, unwittingly providing himself his first lessons in business. But when he tweaked the design of the band’s MySpace page, and other bands noticed, his two loves merged: He was doing front-end development, and he was getting paid to do it. But it was another lesson he learned from his days in the band, that would go on to accelerate his career. Doing the grunt work led to his first big opportunity and a major critical shift It turned out, moving the chairs around and ordering the pizzas got Shay noticed, and he was asked to give a talk at Refresh Chicago. He prepared for at least 40 hours for that 15-minute talk, and the work paid off, getting him invited to speak at another conference, which eventually led to his first big job. Shay credits the time he invested into that talk with helping get his career on the right trajectory, but it also triggered something else in him: a desire to follow in his parents’ footsteps and teach. As he says in the interview, “So many people opened doors for me, of course I was going to open doors for a few others.” From Codecademy to Lead Honestly, a career spent helping others When Shay worked at Groupon, the coding boot camp Codecademy opened in their office space. Shay began spending hours there, volunteering to teach students and eventually put out a free resource for learning how to code (which was eventually turned into a book). After his time at Belly, he started the company Lead Honestly, which takes his years of experience building relationships and partners with organizations to help them connect better with their employees. The company sends five questions out to managers every week that will help them better understand and engage with their staff. This is a fascinating interview with a self-starter, a leader, and a dyed-in-the-wool educator. Outline of This Episode [0:45] Three big takeaways from this interview [2:01] How Shay became a product manager [4:45] How his parents found ways to help Shay learn [8:25] How being in a band helped him “understand how the hustle works” [12:05] His first foray into business building MySpace pages for bands [16:55] How he got to know people in Chicago by volunteering [22:30] The first talk he ever gave [27:15] How giving that first talk changed everything for him. [30:50] The beginnings of Codeacademy [36:15] The creation of Lead Honestly Resources & People Mentioned Shay Howe Lead Honestly Shay’s coding lessons Groupon Belly Russ Unger Chicago Camps Logan Lahive Codecademy Connect With Tom and Launchpad Lab https://launchpadlab.com/ On Instagram On Twitter On Facebook On LinkedIn

Anyone could tell you that while business owners and leaders are eager to serve their customers, they also feel the need to produce greater and greater profit for their company. But you’re about to meet a man who thinks differently about that assumption. Patrick Cullen has been leading The Bank of Cattaraugus for many years, and the bank sometimes only makes $5,000 in profit in a year. But profit is not why Patrick there. That’s not why the bank is there. He says the bank’s purpose is to help the local people. Period. And they do. You’ll get to hear from this amazing businessman who takes a different approach to his business, on this episode of The Critical Shift. Above all things, always be good and you will always be happy. When Patrick Cullen was in college he was impacted in many ways by his instructors. But one of the most impacting things he remembers came in the form of a sermon, given by one of the priests at his school, St. Bonaventure University. The phrase Patrick will never forget is this: “Above all things, always be good and you will always be happy.” The statement was so meaningful to Patrick, he’s lived his life by it. On this episode, you’ll hear Patrick explain why he runs his bank differently than most and how he has done everything he can to help his community. His heart and concern for people far outweigh his desire to run a profitable business and you’ll hear why on this episode. I like helping people because I can. And I see so many people who can and don’t. ~ Patrick Cullen It’s inconceivable to Patrick Cullen why a person with the ability to help another would not do it. In his mind, that’s what we have been blessed for - to use those blessings in the service of others. He’s not interested in piling up profits for his bank when the money can be used to help the people of his local community instead. So that’s what he does. Patrick is a living example of the Golden Rule in action: “Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you.” You’ll be encouraged and challenged by the uncommon approach to business Patrick takes - and you can hear him explain it on this episode of The Critical Shift. Why would I retire from helping people? ~ Patrick Cullen When Patrick Cullen is asked if he has plans to retire from his role as President of Cattaraugus Bank, he looks puzzled. “Why would I retire from helping people. I love what I do.” That’s a refreshing perspective in a world where everybody seems eager to lay down their work sooner rather than later. But Patrick is not your ordinary businessman. He’s not getting rich monetarily, and neither is his bank, but he’s rich in another way - in the satisfaction of knowing he’s truly doing something to make the lives of people better. When you have the ability to help people, you help them. ~ Patrick Cullen Patrick Cullen has a simple philosophy, about life and business. When you have the ability to help people, you help them - and he takes that approach very literally when it comes to the way he does business in his community. Find out why he’s willing to make little to no profit each year and what it has to do with the purpose of the bank he leads by listening to this great episode. Outline of This Episode [0:23] Patrick Cullen: Tom’s Dad and his different approach to doing business. [2:07] The fascination Patrick has about the area where he lives. [7:22] Why finance became Patrick’s chosen major in college. [11:36] The underlying lessons taken from his college years. [15:04] This history of The Bank of Cattaraugus is about people, not profit. [18:44] Volunteers coming together to tell the story of the area through a museum. [22:20] How becoming an Eagle Scout was transformative for Patrick. [28:20] Carrying on a legacy of perseverance and determination from his father. Resources & People Mentioned https://www.bankofcattaraugus.com/ Nicest banker in America post on Huffington Post Rafael Sabatini Robert A. Heinlein St. Bonaventure University New York Times article about Patrick The American Museum of Cutlery Colonel Robert Scott of the Flying Tigers Connect With Tom and Launchpad Lab https://launchpadlab.com/ On Instagram On Twitter On Facebook On LinkedIn

Sometimes, entrepreneurship is in your blood. Take Ryan Francis, a developer and a partner in the Chicago web development shop Launchpad Lab. His grandfather was one of seven brothers who all started their own businesses, and then passed the startup gene onto Ryan. In this amazing episode, Ryan opens up about how his family influenced him, how mentors along his journey helped him discover his strengths and find success, and how he came to own two companies doing more than a million dollars in sales a year, with both at critical points in their growth. If you are interested in finding your strengths (and why wouldn’t you be?), this episode is for you. Every family has its traditions. In the Francis family, it’s entrepreneurship. Sometimes, finding your strengths flows out of your history. In this down-to-earth interview, Ryan Francis talks about how at 10, he took an entrepreneur test online. He wanted to prove to his father that he was ready to run his own lawn-mowing business, and he wanted to make sure he could do it. That business bug never left him, as he tested the waters of starting another business while in college. And then, in his 20s, while working a job in finance, he and his father started a business together, manufacturing bunk and loft beds. At each step of the way, Ryan found a mentor who shared invaluable insight with him. Whether it was the engineers in his father’s factory when he worked there as a kid, pushing him to solve problems on his own, or a manager who encouraged him to recognize the root cause of mistakes, Ryan discovered the value of always asking questions. Focus on your strengths and you’ll find your path in business and in life. Ryan Francis tells a story about when he worked corporate finance at a healthcare company in Chicago. He discovered that behind a lot of the problems with the data he was crunching was human error. He set out to automate the systems, using spreadsheets to drastically reduce the mistakes his team was experiencing. But as he was streamlining his department’s operations, he started to ask why—why did they do it this way? And he found that there was a problem at the source of the data. His penchant for asking questions brought his company to the best solution, but it also unearthed a truth about Ryan: Even though he was good at finding how to optimize systems for better workflows, organization wasn’t his strong suit. If he was going to be successful, he was going to have to follow his strengths, his creative side. What’s the difference between fighting yourself and finding your path to success? Ryan Francis found that while organization and multitasking weren’t for him, being creative and “thinking in the abstract” were. That’s when he pivoted to web development for the next phase of his career. But it was actually the entrepreneurship in his DNA that led him to that first crack at web development. When he and his father started their bunk and loft bed business, he had to build a website for the first time, and he found it wasn’t that easy. He also started using Google Adwords to sell his first bed, and he had to learn how that system worked, as well. He was building a foundation for his business. Ryan said it’s important for all entrepreneurs to understand the foundation of any system they're using, though outsourcing is often best once you have that foundation. Don’t try to do everything in business. Focus on solving one critical problem. After joining LaunchPad Lab as an employee and eventually a partner, Ryan says he sees one common problem with the way businesses try to develop products. Part of the challenge with building products, he said, is that one often feels it needs to have everything a user could ever want. But according to Ryan, what makes a product sell is that it does one very specific thing, and it does it very well. It solves one critical problem for a person. A key to success in developing products, whether it’s software or not, you have to avoid the impulse to overbuild. One could accuse Ryan Francis of overbuilding a bit, running two successful companies at the same time. But it’s his ability to ask questions and recognize his own strengths that have led him down the path to the success. That, and his entrepreneurial genes. Outline of This Episode [1:26] Ryan Francis, entrepreneur and partner at LaunchPad Lab [3:37] Ryan discusses his two businesses, and how they’re in “critical points” in their growth. [5:02] How his family’s history of entrepreneurship got him interested early. [12:56] Began to realize in his job in corporate finance, what he enjoyed and what he didn’t enjoy. [18:26] HIs eureka moment in starting his bed manufacturing company with his father [23:45] Learning and really owning the foundation of your business before outsourcing tasks [26:00] Beginning of his career with LaunchPad Lab, and how it fostered his creativity [28:10] How mentors have influenced Ryan over the years [29:40] The importance of not overbuilding when designing a product [33:30] A particularly harrowing experience that changed his life Resources & People Mentioned LaunchPad Lab Baxter Healthcare Francis Lofts & Bunks Connect With Tom and Launchpad Lab https://launchpadlab.com/ On Instagram On Twitter On Facebook On LinkedIn

There is a lot of talk these days about being a serial entrepreneur, and many times it’s overblown or exaggerated. But not in the case of today’s guest, Dan Heuertz. Dan is an amazing guy who started his first business while he was still in college and by the time he finished up his undergrad degree he had 3 separate brick and mortar businesses running successfully - and was being featured in national business media. His early success has driven him to become more and to give more back, which is one of the biggest reasons he’s a guest on the show. Take the time to listen to this one, you’ll hear a very genuine and accomplished man describe how his path has taken him to the point he is today. Every serial entrepreneur has the bloody nose and scars that validate their accomplishments. The road to building a business is never an easy one. And for those like Dan Heuertz who have built many businesses over the course of their careers, the scars are many. But each one carried with it the lessons-learned that make the next venture more streamlined and successful, which opens the door to new opportunities. Dan has reached a point in his career where he’s actively giving back, both through the business and success coaching he does and via the business projects he’s working on that are aimed at revitalizing small midwestern towns like the one he grew up in. This is a fascinating conversation you won’t want to miss. Poverty creates a certain kind of motivation. Couple it with a hard-working family and you have a winning formula. Dan Heuertz grew up very poor. He remembers the free lunch tickets he received from the local school district, the hand-me-down clothes he wore, and the embarrassment he felt about those things. That gave him a unique perspective on life, but it didn’t result in the drive he possesses today without the example he saw in his Dad and Grandfather as they worked to make their trucking business a success. Dan says there is a certain truth to the observation that his experiences have made him who he is and in this conversation, he shares those experiences and how he views them in light of the success he’s had. The valuable benefit of being a serial entrepreneur: Learning servant-leadership in a variety of settings. From his earliest business ventures, Dan Heuertz has been in the hospitality business. From bars to restaurants, to management companies that serve the hospitality business he’s had a unique perspective on what it means to serve the customer. He says one of his most treasured leadership beliefs is about how true leaders serve not only their customers but their employees and teams as well. He believes that philosophy is what fueled the quick growth and unusual success he’s been blessed to experience. In this conversation Dan shares why servant-leadership is powerful and how it impacts a business in a positive way, so be sure you listen. Revitalizing small towns through smart business developments. Dan Heuertz says that returning to small town America gives him a peaceful, centered feeling. It makes sense since he grew up in a small town himself. He’s one of those guys who’s able to see opportunity where others see nothing, and he’s doing it again with his first hotel project - one he’s building from the ground up in a small midwestern town. During this conversation, Dan shares how he’s come up with the vision for revitalizing a small town through the construction of a hotel and how he’s modified the typical hotel business model and is working with the town administration to make the project a win-win for himself and the community. He’s an inspiring example of a successful serial entrepreneur who wants to make a difference with his success. Outline of This Episode [0:22] Dan Heuertz, a true serial entrepreneur who’s building purpose-driven businesses. [2:38] Why Dan loves his work as an EOS business coach and how it benefits business owners. [5:23] Dan’s experience as a serial entrepreneur and the millions he’s lost and earned. [8:50] How vision has fueled Dan’s current project for Hotels in small towns. [13:10] Poverty and entrepreneurism in his family fueled his direction. [19:48] Opening a bar, scrapping for every dollar, learning valuable lessons about business. [27:01] Next steps: marriage, opening restaurants, hospitality management, and learning lessons in servant leadership. [35:03] Experiences and lessons Dan has learned as a part of EO and alongside mentors. [38:03] Reflecting on the opportunities life has brought his way with gratitude. Resources & People Mentioned http://fandbpartners.com/ - 3 of Dan’s projects Dan on LinkedIn EOS (Entrepreneur Operating System) Jim Liautaud of Jimmy John’s Connect With Tom and Launchpad Lab https://launchpadlab.com/ On Instagram On Twitter On Facebook On LinkedIn

Whether your company is a startup or an established Fortune 500 behemoth, you've got to stay up with the times. You need new business models to meet the new demands of our changing economy. Joe Dwyer leads a company that builds high-growth new business models for both new and established companies. In this episode of The Critical Shift, Tom speaks with Joe about his early life, how he got into design and tech in the first place, and why he has created a company that helps businesses stay on the cutting edge. No matter your industry, you’ve got to keep up with the changes that occur. No matter what business model you have built your company on, it won't last. Every market changes. Every industry changes even if it's only small bits at a time. Recognizing that truth has enabled Joe Dwyer and the team at Digital Intent to find a place helping companies make the pivots necessary to stay profitable in an ever-changing world. In this conversation, Joe talks with Tom about the creation of Digital Intent and how his life journey has taken him to a place of success. You'll enjoy the stories Joe has to tell. Imagine being put on a plane to Europe at 11 years old with nobody waiting at the other end. When Joe Dwyer was 11 years old his parents put him on an airplane and pointed him toward Europe. When he arrived, he got off the plane, retrieved his luggage, hailed a taxi, and traveled to his uncle's home... and his uncle wasn't even there. That is the independent kind of life that Joe's parents taught him how to live and he feels it was instrumental in enabling him to be confident and proactive in not only building a career but building his life. Joe's doing the same thing with his children now, only a little more guarded and seeing the benefits manifested in their lives also. You'll be surprised at some of the things Joe has experienced and how those experiences have shaped his life so be sure you listen to this episode. Who’s the most important influence on your life? For this co-founder, it’s his wife. One of the obstacles that Joe Dwyer has had to overcome in his life is the condition of attention deficit disorder. He credits his wife with being his greatest champion and best support in that struggle and points out in this conversation how she has helped him time and time again to avoid the mistakes that would otherwise have happened in his career if he had been blazing a trail all on his own. You can hear this beautiful description of a great married team in this conversation. You don't want to miss this. Every startup has to be a team sport. It's impossible for any founder to have the skill mix and abilities to handle every situation that is going to arise in the birth of a new company. Joe Dwyer has seen many startups succeed and many others fail and it's his observation that every startup has to be what he calls a "team sport" in order to be the success that is desired. In this conversation, Joe shares why he believes that and how smart founders are the ones who surround themselves with people who are gifted in areas where they are not. Outline of This Episode [1:10 ] The unique opportunity Joe had to go to school in Europe as a kid. [9:24] The American problem of not being able to relate to other people in the world. [13:12] How travel impacts the way Joe has learned to do business. [15:22] The vital impact Joe’s wife Nancy has had on his career. [17:44] Joe’s first business venture. [22:46] Why startups are a team sport. [27:40] Teaching as the best way to learn. [32:11] The one thing Joe’s team does to help companies. Resources & People Mentioned Digital Intent - Joe’s company http://founderequity.com/ - Joe’s equity company BOOK: Mindset by Carol Dweck Connect With Tom and Launchpad Lab https://launchpadlab.com/ On Instagram On Twitter On Facebook On LinkedIn

We all want to feel that we are making a difference in the lives of others. It doesn’t matter what line of work you are in, you want to know that it matters. Paul Bradley is a data scientist - not a career field that you’d normally think of when considering world-changing work, but he’s found that there are many real-world problems his special skills are able to address in ways that are sorely needed. On this episode of The Critical Shift, you’ll hear Paul’s story, from life in rural Wisconsin as a child to the Microsoft payroll and beyond - and how he’s making a difference in the healthcare industry today. How the lessons you learn in your early years can serve you throughout your life. As Paul Bradley was growing up he got a first-hand glimpse into the world of business. His Grandfather, and later his father and uncle owned a funeral home in the small town where he lived. From his observation and his participation in the business, he learned how important relationships and true caring are in any business. Fast forward to his work as a data scientist and you can see how he applies that principle every day in finding ways to solve problems that impact real people. It’s an interesting connection and one that demonstrates the need to make a difference in the lives of people no matter what career field you are in. Your skill set can make a difference in the lives of others in ways you don’t expect. Upon entering college, Paul Bradley was studying engineering, but it wasn’t long before he switched to the field of computer science. The reason for the change was an experience he had that showed him how the skillset he was learning could be applied in research and truly life-changing work relating to women with breast cancer. That’s when he came to the realization that his plan to become a professor at the University level wasn’t his only option. His skills could be applied to real-life problems in ways he hadn’t imagined. Paul’s story is encouraging in that it points out the positive impact even the most academic skills can have in the lives of others. Apply your skill set to every opportunity until you make a difference. As is the case with most career journeys, Paul Bradley’s path wasn’t a straight one. He moved from one opportunity to another, using and improving upon his skills as he went. With every opportunity came a different set of challenges and he learned to apply his skill set in new ways in each situation. On this episode, Paul walks down memory lane with Tom to explain how he got from a rural Wisconsin town to Microsoft and beyond. His story shows how the diligent application of your talents can take you to places you didn’t even know to dream about going. From Microsoft to a new startup: Why Paul thought the change was worth the risk. Paul began working at Microsoft through an internship program that was offered while he was finishing up his Ph.D. work at the University of Wisconsin. After completing his schooling he continued to do research for Microsoft. When a fellow Microsoft employee and friend decided to move away from the company to join a new startup, Paul decided to make the move as well. Why would an accomplished data scientist like Paul make such a risky career move? Paul explains it himself in this conversation, so we encourage you to listen. Outline of This Episode [1:10] Paul’s growing up years in Wisconsin and lessons learned working in his family’s business: a funeral home. [8:35] The development of Paul’s passion for math and science. [12:50] How it dawned on Paul that math could be used to truly help people. [21:00] Moving to Microsoft for an internship. [25:51] Leaving Microsoft to work for a startup company. [39:44] Leveraging consulting gigs into a new opportunity in healthcare. [50:38] Making the connection with Zirmed for the first time. Resources & People Mentioned Zirmed Olvi Mangasarian Usama Fayyad Digimine Apollo Data Technologies HIMS - Healthcare IT conference Connect With Tom and Launchpad Lab https://launchpadlab.com/ On Instagram On Twitter On Facebook On LinkedIn

All of us know people who are good at opening the door for others to succeed. They are the people who everyone wants to know and be around. Neal Sales-Griffin is one of those people. As an adjunct professor at Northwestern University, he’s had a tremendous impact on many students and has put his philosophies about helping others to the test by creating a nonprofit aimed at helping High School students learn how to solve problems through coding. There are a handful of people here at Launchpad Lab who take every opportunity to be around Neal, and after you hear this interview you’ll understand why. The drive to be happy motivates all kinds of action. What is it driving in you? One of the reasons Neal Sales-Griffin wanted to succeed in college was because of the desire to have money. Since he grew up with very little money that motivation makes perfect sense. But in retrospect he realizes that it wasn’t really the money he was after, it was happiness. Once he was able to discover what truly makes him happy (and it’s not the money) he has oriented his life in a direction that fulfills that desire. What makes him happy? Opening the door for others to find their own happiness and success. You can hear how Neal does it and how that philosophy permeates his life, on this episode of The Critical Shift. Sometimes people who have ambition just need a nudge from you. An earlier episode of The Critical Shift featured Claire Lew, CEO of Know Your Company. In that conversation, Claire mentioned the powerful impact today’s guest had on her. Neal Sales-Griffin is a man who’s made it his mission in life to lift up others, to do what he can to value them so they are encouraged to accomplish all they were designed to accomplish. Claire is one example of the many people Neal has touched and inspired. His perspective is simple: people around you many times just need a nudge in the right direction. That’s worth the effort, isn’t it? Hear Neal’s story and how he explains his motivation to help others, on this episode. You can be the one to open the door for others… and the impact can be incredible. There are people you meet every day who are struggling with their own sense of worth, struggling with the self-doubt and lack of confidence that they really can make a difference in the world. But you wouldn’t know it because we all strive to put on our best face and keep moving. But since you know it’s true, why not do what you can to help those people bust the doubts and move forward? Your simple words, questions, and encouragement can do it. Neal Sales-Griffin talks about the way he’s been able to encourage others and help them move forward in what they are passionate about doing, on this episode of The Critical Shift. Why the focus of Neal’s life is to become irrelevant. Toward the end of this conversation, Neal was kind enough to summarize the way he looks at the calling that is on his life. In his own words, the focus of his life is to become irrelevant. He wants those he teaches, encourages, and equips to outpace him in every area so that his place in their lives is no longer needed. Isn’t that a refreshing perspective in this world of personal branding and promotion? You can hear Neal’s story and why he believes that building up others is the best use of his life, on this episode. Outline of This Episode [2:06] Who is Neal Sales-Griffin? [4:45] Neal’s journey to Northwestern, the first in his family to complete college. [16:20] Experiencing the benefits of leadership gifts and clear direction. [20:57] The passion that drove Neal in college and how it developed over time. [28:09] Why Neal takes the initiative to lead people. Resources & People Mentioned The Starter League - learn to code in 3 months Code Now Northwestern University Outcome Health Full Stack Academy ISBE at Northwestern Know Your Company Wildfire - Northwestern’s startup incubator BaseCamp ClarityBox Connect With Tom and Launchpad Lab https://launchpadlab.com/ On Instagram On Twitter On Facebook On LinkedIn

It’s becoming more and more obvious that the businesses that succeed these days are the ones that are able to assemble a great team and build a team culture that drives success. Mike Cruz had the opportunity to serve as part of the leadership team of Trunk Club as it was going through the iterations that have made it such a successful company. In this conversation, he talks about his personal journey and how it led him to the place where the well-being of the people on the team and the chemistry within the company were what gave him the greatest sense of fulfillment. It’s a great case-study in building team culture and you’ll learn a ton by listening. Building a team culture starts with knowing who you are, as a leader and as a company. One of the things that becomes evident as you listen to Mike Cruz’ story is that the more clearly he knew his personal identity as he worked his way through his own career journey, the more clearly he was able to discern what a healthy team and company culture would look like under his leadership. He says that in his case, his personal identity as a leader and the company/team identity go hand in hand. Mike shares many lessons-learned in this conversation with Tom, so be sure you make some time to listen. The path of every startup is filled with false starts and pivots. It’s the nature of the beast. As Trunk Club was experiencing the growing pains inherent with being a startup there were many false starts and pivots, in mission and in production and fulfillment. It has to be that way because few startups begin with a clear sense of company identity and mission. Those are things that evolve over time as the team assembles, personalities and skills mesh, and purpose becomes more clear. Mike Cruz says the Trunk Club team took on 3 to 4 iterations in the process because of the changes involved in discovering what the team culture had to be in order for success to happen. He says it’s part of the process you can’t really avoid. When you build a team culture, there’s a point where you stop talking about it and start living it. When the team at Trunk Club had gone through several iterations and the new group of team players were finally seeming like the right fit, Mike Cruz had already spent a lot of personal time working through the essentials of the team culture. He'd talked about it with team members a lot. But he says there came a time when he had to stop talking about it and start living it. That’s when everything changed. Find out how the Trunk Club team made that transition and the amazing results that took place because of it, on this episode of The Critical Shift. For better or worse, every team is a reflection of those who assemble it. It’s almost impossible to think of Microsoft without Bill Gates coming to mind. The same is true for Apple and its co-founder, Steve Jobs. The reason for that is a point Mike Cruz makes in this conversation - for better or worse, every team or business is a reflection of those who create it. It’s infused with the personality, perspective, and values of the leader. It can’t be helped - so it should be celebrated and championed because it’s the natural progression toward success that the team is on. Find out more about the process of building a team culture that fuels success, on this episode. Outline of This Episode [1:50] Growing up in Guam, college in the U.S. and starting a career outside his passions. [9:28] Learning that his skillset was around helping motivate and inspire engineers. [12:01] Where Mike learned his bent toward self-reflection and improvement. [18:21] Cleaning the slate to start all over at Trunk Club. [25:13] Drawing from his background and childhood to find himself and invest in his work. [28:04] Humility as a key to success in any industry. [30:24] The importance of positioning yourself for success in spite of circumstances. Resources & People Mentioned Trunk Club Swipe Sense Discovery Simon SInek Connect With Tom and Launchpad Lab https://launchpadlab.com/ On Instagram On Twitter On Facebook On LinkedIn

It’s really a hard thing to know what you want. It takes a lot of soul-searching and more than most of us want to admit, it also requires a lot of experience with things you don’t want. Claire Lew is one of those people who has traveled that journey of discovery. Her story is almost enchanting because as she tells it, you see the pieces that led toward her own sense of desire and purpose falling into place perfectly. On this episode of The Critical Shift, you’ll hear Claire tell about her journey in her own words and find out how she came to the point that she had no doubt about what she was meant to add to the world. What happens when a child grows up with confidence that they are fully loved and supported? Most of us have a pretty clear picture of what happens when a child is run down or berated as they grow up. But have you ever known somebody who grew up in exactly the opposite environment? Claire Lew is one of those people. She’s blessed to have had parents who told her that anything was possible and no matter how hair-brained or disjointed her plans may have seemed to them as she discovered her own sense of purpose, they were always there with encouragement, telling her that she could do anything she wanted to do. That’s what fuels her even today as she pursues her passion of making companies and employees true partners in purpose and direction. Problem-solving is the purest form of entrepreneurship. Claire Lew was a Sophomore in college when she realized that her path forward would be that of an entrepreneur. She loved solving problems - for friends, in class, for the student body - anywhere she could. When she enrolled in a course about entrepreneurship and saw that the basic job description of every entrepreneur is to solve problems - she was all in. Today as she leads “Know Your Company” she’s in her sweet spot, routinely working alongside companies to solve a problem that she’s experienced personally and is passionate to fix. You’ll enjoy her story as she shares it on this episode of The Critical Shift. Knowing what you really want is paramount to fulfillment and impact. It’s a lot of work to figure out what you really want. But when it happens, when you get clarity on what you want, all kinds of things open up to you. You begin to see opportunities that you didn’t notice before. You take steps of faith (risks) that you would never have taken before. You begin to learn from people and experiences like never before. Claire Law’s story demonstrates all of those things and you’ll be encouraged and challenged by it if you listen - so please do. Do you know what you want? If you’re going to figure out what you really want to do in the world it’s going to take a lot of work. You’ll have to make some hard choices, you’ll have to say “no” to many, many things, and you’ll have to take steps that seem like leaps of faith. But through it all you’ll discover things about yourself and what’s truly on your heart that you can’t know any other way. Listen to Claire Lew tell how she took that journey and the amazing results that have come from it, on this episode of The Critical Shift. Outline of This Episode [0:22] Meet Claire Lew, CEO of “Know Your Company” and why she’s a guest on the show. [3:40] Why Claire was asked to take over a company the Basecamp team had created. [7:00] Constant moving because of her Dad’s job, constantly being the new kid. [9:52] Wanting to understand how to be happy at work, even as a kid. [16:40] True success: Living life on your own terms. [29:50] Leaving her first successful startup because of burnout. [36:20] The response of her parents when she quit her job to pursue her own business. [41:15] Building out her philosophy through case studies and connecting with the Basecamp team. Resources & People Mentioned Know Your Company Jason Fried BaseCamp BOOK: What Should I Do With My Life? 37 Signals BOOK: Rework BOOK: Getting Real Groupon The Starter League BOOK: The Alchemist   Connect With Tom and Launchpad Lab https://launchpadlab.com/ On Instagram On Twitter On Facebook On LinkedIn

  There are many people who are curious how a person actually establishes themselves in a venture capital career. It’s kind of mysterious: How do you become experienced and adept at assessing companies for the purpose of investing other people’s money in them, to the tune of millions of dollars? Guy Turner’s story is one of great success so far in the VC world - he’s only in his 30s - but it’s demonstrative of the path that is required to get into and be successful in venture capital. The story he shares on this episode - of his childhood, dreams of being a meteorologist, business education, and finally a career in venture capital that he loves - will give you a peek through the keyhole of what it takes to become successful in VC. What’s the best way to establish a venture capital career? Work for free for 3 years. Guy Turner says that the path he had to take to get started in venture capital is pretty typical. He and his partners built their VC business for 3 years before any of them got financially reimbursed - salary or otherwise. He says that’s what it takes both to learn the role and gain the experience it takes to be a successful venture capitalist and to build a resume that investors can trust. Guy tells a number of stories about what it was like to slog it out in those early years and also turns the corner to explain how it has led to numerous rewards in the end, on this episode of The Critical Shift. The vital nature of learning to build professional relationships with people older than you. One of the experiences from Guy Turner’s childhood that he believes set him up to have greater success in business was that he started working at an early age, and the environment he worked in (chauffeuring owners out to their boats that were anchored on the river) required him to learn how to interact with people older than he was. He says that sort of interaction has served him well in that it’s enabled him to see issues through eyes more experienced than his own and has taught him how to relate to the investors he now serves regularly in his venture capital career. Work ethic + horsepower = power for your career. When Guy Turner was growing up there was something in him that enjoyed the work environment. He started working at age 11 and he says that early work experience enabled him to develop a strong work ethic - but that work ethic alone wasn’t enough to get him where he’s at today. He says when you first start working, a good work ethic can be a differentiator, but it has to be combined with what he calls “horsepower” - Do you “get it” and can you apply what you are learning? Those two in combination are the power behind successful careers like he’s been able to build in the venture capital world. Guy has so much great insight to share, so be sure you listen. Why 10 years is the earliest you can know if you’re making it as a Venture Capitalist. Though many would view Guy Turner as a marked success as a venture capitalist he says that he’s barely at the point he feels comfortable with those kinds of statements. That’s because he says in VC you can’t know for certain if you’ve been successful in the investment decisions you’ve made for a minimum of 10 years. It simply takes that long to have any kind of track record to assess. In this conversation, Guy talks about how his growing up years and family life have impacted his venture capital career, how he deals with the emotional roller coaster of working in VC, and the big lessons he’s learned thus far. If you would enjoy an inside look into the world of venture capital, this conversation is for you. Outline of This Episode [0:22] Guy Turner: Managing Partner of Hyde Park Venture Partners. [4:10] How do you get into venture? Work for free for 3 years. [7:19] Why school is extremely self-serving and the challenge it presents. [16:10] Transitioning from furniture school to studies at Cornell. [21:48] The biggest challenge Guy has faced in his VC career thus far. [25:24] Dealing with the emotional toll of the boom and bust nature of venture capital. [28:41] The most meaningful things to Guy on a personal level about his VC work so far. Resources & People Mentioned Hyde Park Venture Partners - Guy’s Venture Capital firm Hyde Park Angels mHUB Cornell University University of Michigan University of Chicago Business School Ira Weiss Connect With Tom and Launchpad Lab https://launchpadlab.com/ On Instagram On Twitter On Facebook On LinkedIn

There are a handful of significant obstacles every physical products startup faces - financing, the learning curve (you don’t know what you don’t know), lack of proper facilities to test and tweak your product, and the need for collaboration in a competitive space. mHUB, an incredible collaborative manufacturing space in Chicago is making it possible for makers to overcome every single one of those hurdles for minimal monthly members. On this episode of The Critical Shift, you’re going to hear how Bill Fienup made the journey from challenged elementary school student to founder of one of the most innovative maker spaces in the country, and how his journey was instrumental in the development of the vision behind mHUB. This is a very cool project you’ll want to know about. A hub for creativity, manufacturing, funding, and more - in a facility twice the size of a football field. Bill Fienup’s career journey is one many would envy. He attended MIT, worked for HASBRO designing NERF guns, and spent years working for the top product development firms in the world. When he stepped out to create his own company he experienced firsthand how difficult it is to establish a quality product and sustainable company without adequate facilities and resources. He also missed the collaboration he had at MIT and in his previous positions - and all those difficulties got him thinking that there had to be a better way. Bill’s personal story is very much the story of how mHUB came to be. It’s a hub for creativity, manufacturing, funding, and more in Chicago. Find out more on this episode. How a personal challenge from an elementary school teacher sparked a career of innovation and creativity. When Bill Fienup was in elementary school he struggled with school in general for a number of reasons. He was a smart kid - he and his dad used to sketch out ideas for perpetual motion machines - but he wasn’t engaged in the process of his own education. When a teacher took the initiative to take Bill out for ice cream and challenge him to give it his all for the next 5 weeks, something in Bill woke up - and it hasn’t slept since. You’ll be inspired by the impact that anonymous educator had in Bill’s life and how Bill has made good on his promise to do his best, on this episode of The Critical Shift. How mHUB could provide the resources you need to get your startup rolling. mHUB is a membership based facility much like a coworking space, but it’s so much more than that. Membership packages include access to all of the state of the art prototyping labs and other resources like classrooms and conference rooms. As a member of mHUB you’ll also be connected with industry mentors and investors who can help you refine your ideas and get funding in place. But perhaps more importantly, you’ll have the opportunity to be part of a supportive community of like-minded makers who are a wealth of innovative ideas and approaches in their own rite. Find out how mHUB could be the launchpad for your startup, on this episode of The Critical Shift. What does it mean to do hard work as an entrepreneur? Bill Fienup says that the entrepreneurial path is a difficult one because of the fact that it’s entirely self-directed. There’s no authority in place who tells you what time to show up for work, what work to do, or even why you're doing it. All of that is up to you, the entrepreneur. In this conversation, Tom asks Bill what it means to work hard as an entrepreneur and how an individual can motivate themselves to do the work even when they’d rather be out doing something else. What is it that drives the founder entrepreneur? Bill has sage advice to share on this episode. Outline of This Episode [0:22] What’s the purpose of The Critical Shift podcast? [1:28] What is Mhub and how did it come about? [6:37] A turning point for Bill in 3rd and 4th grade sparked by an intentional teacher. [10:20] Bill’s desire to go to MIT when he was a teen. [21:00] Learning the value of collaboration and availability of resources. [27:10] Lowering the barriers to entry for startups with Catalyze Chicago. [31:20] The challenges of raising funds only from private corporations. [36:15] What does it mean to do hard work? How do you do it? Resources & People Mentioned mHUB - Bill’s organization MIT Hasbro Ideo product development Insight Product Development Maker Base World Business Chicago Connect With Tom and Launchpad Lab https://launchpadlab.com/ On Instagram On Twitter On Facebook On LinkedIn