Since growing up as a kid in small-town Iowa, I’ve had the benefit of being around a lot of great coaches, teachers, and mentors. I’ve been surrounded by these people in the gym, on the field, and in conference rooms learning from great business coaches and fellow business owners.
I’ve had the opportunity to work with coaches in youth sports and observe other exceptional coaches who work with my kids and other teams, including State Champions, National Champions, and Olympians.
Very few of us will reach those marks, but we can still focus on progress and continuous improvement. We can identify and solve problems, then move on to the next thing. This rings true in all areas of my own life, from coaching kids, to developing our team at Farmboy, to building strategies and growing our clients’ businesses. In all these worlds, we’re constantly evaluating and leveling up. It’s important to check in and ask— am I getting closer to the Big Leagues, or am I stuck in the low Minors?
Businesses like ours have A LOT of moving parts. Overseeing and improving what we deliver to our clients, quarter over quarter, time and time again, is key to both the success of our clients and our team.
We’re constantly monitoring time management and prioritization. When it comes down to it, we need to make sure that our players know their roles and are in a spot where they can put our team and our clients in the best position to win.
Over the course of my nearly 49 years, I’ve worn a lot of different hats and served in a variety of roles. These days, the biggest benefit I can bring to people and the most fulfilling role I can take as a business owner, consultant, and just as a regular person and parent is that of a LEADER.
I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of great instructors over the years. One of them is named Penny, who taught the graphic design classes I took as an 18 and 19-year-old kid at Des Moines Area Community College. She saw me going through the design annual and awards book and called me out as a “sponge”—and that’s exactly what I was, soaking up everything I saw or heard.
I will work to share more of these experiences with other business owners, parents, and people across my social media and over email in the coming months to help as many people start off a strong 2025.
Leave a Reply