Shows
The Clarity Advisors Show117 Stu Heinecke -- Getting in front of your ideal prospectGrowing sales is key to any successful business. But first you have to get in front of your ideal prospect.This week, Stu Heinecke, bestselling author of How to Get a Meeting with Anyone, joins host Ken Trupke on The Clarity Advisors Show.Stu and Ken talk about contact marketing, Stu's new book, and Stu's career as a Wall Street Journal cartoonist.Timestamps(00:20): Introduction.(01:15): The problems Stu Heinecke solves.(02:53): Stu’s typical client.(07:10): Using cartoons to reach clients.(12:56): How to get a meeting.(17:25): Getting in...2024-10-2938 min
The Clarity Advisors Show116 Ken Trupke -- Ask Me Anything: Talking politics at workWith just two weeks until the 2024 U.S. presidential election, politics is becoming a more frequent topic of discussion in the workplace. On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke fields a question from a business owner who’s concerned that her team will become distracted -- or even divided -- by political conversations.Ken explains that while everybody has a right to voice their opinion outside the workplace, it’s important at work to stay focused on serving customers.If you have a question for Ken to answer on a fu...2024-10-2214 min
The Clarity Advisors Show115 Adi Klevit -- Setting goals and aligning and engaging your teamIn my recent appearance as a guest on the "Systems Simplified" podcast, I talked with my friend and host, Adi Klevit of The Business Success Consulting Group, about the importance of setting goals for your business and how to get your team aligned and engaged to achieve them. We also discussed using the daily huddle to create a culture of accountability to support success.Timestamps(00:20): Intro.(00:59): Systems Simplified podcast intro.(01:50): About Clarity Advisors.(02:22): Who Clarity Advisors works with.(03:33): Ken Trupke’s background.(05:19): The start of Clarity Ad...2024-10-1525 min
The Clarity Advisors Show113 Ken Trupke -- Accountability and "What if they don't?"Part of being a leader is setting expectations and assigning responsibilities. But what if a team member doesn’t do what they’re supposed to do, when they’re supposed to do it? That’s a problem leaders seem to be facing more often.On this edition of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke talks about the importance of holding team members accountable and helps leaders prepare for "What if they don't?"Timeline(00:20): Introduction – Defining the problem.(02:54): Origin of the problem.(05:16): The contract in the workplace.(08:34): What if they do...2024-10-0115 min
The Clarity Advisors Show112 Nelson Wilner -- Getting back to work at the officeGetting your team back to work in the office has been a challenge for business leaders since 2020. Over the past few years, today’s guest on The Clarity Advisors Show has successfully navigated the transition of his team back to almost completely on-site work.Nelson Wilner is Vice President of Kawasaki Engines USA. In this episode, Nelson tells host Ken Trupke how communication, flexibility, and culture were keys to the process.Timestamps(00:20): Introduction.(01:01): About Kawasaki Engines USA.(00:27): Nelson Wilner’s background.(02:11): About Nelson’s team at Kawasaki.(02:45): Update on the...2024-09-2425 min
The Clarity Advisors Show111 Cam Roberts -- Improving your business, your team, and your communityBusiness success isn’t just about profit and loss. For today’s guest on The Clarity Advisors Show, it’s also about improving his community. Cam Roberts is president of Laser Pavement Solutions and host of the “Stripe It Like It’s Hot” podcast.In this episode, he shares with host Ken Trupke what he’s learned from coaches and mentors and how that's helped him create a culture and build a team that goes beyond painting lines on pavement.Timestamps(00:20): Introduction.(01:01): About Laser Pavement Solutions.(05:01): How Laser Pavement Solut...2024-09-1749 min
The Clarity Advisors Show110 Ken Trupke -- Ask me anything: Defining your core valuesIn another “Ask Me Anything” episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke answers a listener’s question about core values, explaining what they are, how to define them, and then how to use them with your team.Send Ken an email if you have a question you’d like answered or a topic you’d like to see covered in an upcoming show. Timeline(00:20): Introduction.(01:09): Defining the core purpose vs. the core values.(04:00): Getting started.(04:03): The “blank sheet” approach.(05:32): The “head start” approach.(07:28): Five tips for defining y...2024-09-1021 min
The Clarity Advisors Show109 Leslie Shreve -- Controlling your workload and being more productiveIn today’s fast-moving business environment, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with emails pouring in, your task list growing, and time slipping away. Today’s guest on The Clarity Advisors Show is a productivity and workload management expert with a system for getting all of that under control.Leslie Shreve is the founder and CEO of Productive Day and the creator of “Taskology,” the science of getting things done. In this episode, Leslie tells Ken Trupke how she helps professionals and their teams manage their workloads, make more progress, and enjoy more stress-free time at home.2024-09-0336 min
The Clarity Advisors Show108 Ken Trupke -- Five steps to wrap up summerAs we come to the end of summer, it’s time to reset the team and the expectations for the rest of the year.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke offers a five-step plan to energize your team and set yourself up for a strong finish.Timeline (00:20): Introducing the five steps.(00:56): Step 1: Define goals for the rest of year.(01:39): Step 2: Revisit metrics and reset goals.(02:56): Step 3: Call team together.(04:53): Step 4: Restart the daily huddle.(05:31): Step 5: Review the metrics daily and weekly.2024-08-2708 min
The Clarity Advisors Show107 Adi Klevit -- Improving your business through systems and processesIf you want to be successful, you must remember to work on your business – not just work in your business. And working on your business includes systematizing things so you can deliver consistent value to your customers.Today’s guest, Adi Klevit, the CEO and founder of the Business Success Consulting Group, and the host of the Systems Simplified podcast, specializes in helping clients create the systems to run their business.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Adi explains to host Ken Trupke how she helps fast-growing companies achieve consistency and efficiency by docu...2024-08-2025 min
The Clarity Advisors Show106 Bob Burg -- A conversation with Mr. “Go-Giver”If you’re looking for a short list of principles for business success, there may be no better book than “The Go-Giver,” which has sold well over a million copies and been translated into 30 languages.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke talks with the co-author of the book, Bob Burg, about following his Five Laws of Stratospheric Success to build relationships, communicate value, and accelerate business growth.Timestamps(00:21): Introduction.(01:04): Why the Go-Giver series has been so successful.(04:43): Introducing the five laws of the go-giver.(0...2024-08-1323 min
The Clarity Advisors Show105 Ken Trupke -- The Curse of the Good IdeaAs leaders, we're always looking to innovate and find new and better ways to serve our customers.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke discusses The Curse of the Good Idea: how jumping from "good idea" to "good idea" prevents you from finishing what you're already working on.He explains why we can do anything, but not everything, and offers tips for being intentional about filling up your plate, so your good ideas turn into results.Timeline(00:20): Explaining the curse of the good...2024-08-0611 min
The Clarity Advisors Show104 Mandi Brower -- Creating a great place to workCreating a culture where people want to come to work starts with a leader with a vision and a heart for people. Today’s guest, Mandi Brower, is the Chief Operating Officer of Quality Car Wash, a business that spans multiple car washes and some Tim Horton's coffee shops.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Mandi shares with host Ken Trupke how she fosters a culture where people on her team feel supported and can learn skills that help them in their careers.Timestamps(00:59): About Quality Car Wash.2024-07-3031 min
The Clarity Advisors Show103 Ken Trupke -- Ask Me Anything: Friendly vs. professional and summer reading recommendationsOn this “Ask Me Anything” edition of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke answers listeners’ questions.This week he explains that being friendly and being professional aren't opposites (and that friendly is better!), and he offers some recommendations for your summer reading list.If you have a question that you’d like Ken to answer in a future episode, you can email it to him at ken@clarityadvisors.io.Timeline(00:41): Question 1: Friendly vs. professional.(03:09): Question 2: Summer book recommendations.(03:45): “Atomic Habits” by James Clear.(04:21): “Never Split th...2024-07-2309 min
The Clarity Advisors Show102 Ken Trupke -- Four characteristics of good followersWhile an organization is only as good as its leaders, it's also only as good as its followers. It's the followers who accomplish goals under a leader's direction and help achieve the leader's vision.Whether or not you aspire to leadership, it's essential that you learn to follow well. On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke offers his top four characteristics of good followers.Timeline(00:20): Introduction.(01:34): No. 1 – Humility.(03:09): No. 2 – Teamwork.(04:22): No. 3 – Work ethic.(05:03): No. 4 – Loyalty. (07:14): Recap. Episode Qu...2024-07-1608 min
The Clarity Advisors Show101 Ken Trupke -- Seven steps to ensure failureWe spend a lot of time talking about success and how to achieve it, but there are actually more ways to get things wrong than there are to get them right.So, on this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke flips the script and offers seven steps to ensure failure. This isn't a complete list, but it's a start. Hopefully you'll do the opposite and set yourself up for success.Timeline(00:20): Introduction.(00:45): No. 1 – Hanging around with negative people.(01:25): No. 2 – Putting yourself first.(02:05): No. 3 – Procra...2024-07-0909 min
The Clarity Advisors Show100 Ken Trupke -- Quick tips for summertime networkingAs we officially start summer, it's a time to set aside work, take a vacation or at least a few days off, and recharge. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be opportunities to network.On the 100th episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke offers two tips for making connections at summertime events that will help you grow your team and business. Timestamps(00:26): Introduction.(01:10): Tip One: Be friendly.(02:23): Tip Two: Keep your antenna up.(03:45): Episode 100.Episode Quotes"Focus more on be...2024-07-0204 min
The Clarity Advisors Show99 Ken Trupke -- What to do when things don't get doneOn this "Ask Me Anything" episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke addresses a listener's question about a team consistently missing deadlines despite using a project management tool. Timestamps(00:38): Listener question.(01:19): Purpose of a project management tool.(02:28): Tending the garden of the team.(04:20): The leader is responsible.(06:04): Diagnosing the problem.(06:50): Assume the process is the problem.(07:50): Maybe it’s a “people” problem.(09:20): Two acceptable outcomes.(15:45): Creating an environment of accountability. Episode Quotes“The project management tool doesn't actually cr...2024-06-2518 min
The Clarity Advisors Show98 Ken Trupke – Working with opposite behavior stylesOn this "Ask Me Anything" episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke uses the DiSC Assessment to answer a listener's question about how to deal with a boss with the opposite behavior style. Timestamps(00:38): Listener question.(02:28): DiSC chart explanation.(09:17): Get your concerns on the table.(11:36): Four tips for an “S” working with a “D” boss.(11:48): No. 1: Pick up your pace.(12:58): No. 2: Set time limit expectations.(14:32): No. 3: Have an agenda.(16:08): No. 4: Give choices. Episode Quotes “It's not that task-oriented people don't care abo...2024-06-1820 min
The Clarity Advisors Show97 Ken Trupke -- Six ways to keep momentum going during the summerAs we head into summer, it's important not lose momentum with your team. We all need time off to reset and recharge, and we continue to have customers we need to serve.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke offers six ideas to help you maintain momentum through the summer while making sure your team still gets time to enjoy summer.Timestamps(00:23): Introduction(01:02): Tip 1: Plan work(03:16): Tip 2: Check in weekly.(04:35): Tip 3: Morning routine.(07:48): Tip 4: Contests.(10:18): Tip 5: Book club.(12:29): Tip 6: Four-day work...2024-06-1116 min
The Clarity Advisors Show95 Ken Trupke -- Three ideas to encourage youOn this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke recounts three separate, but related experiences that encouraged him by reminding him of the value of knowledge and learning, to accept our imperfections, and recognize that success may be closer than we think. Timestamps(00:23): Separate, but related encouraging events(00:40): Conversation with a friend about a difficult relationship(01:36): Bullets before cannonballs(02:22): Begin with the end in mind.(03:55): Nobody is perfect.(07:45): Life is like a pinata. Episode Quotes“Book knowledge doesn't always translate perfectly into the...2024-05-2811 min
The Clarity Advisors Show94 Ken Trupke -- Ask Me Anything: Staying too long, leading a new team, and the value of experienceOn this "Ask Me Anything" episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke answers listeners’ questions.This week he looks explains why it sometimes makes sense to stay with a job a long time and when it might be time to move on, how you can lead a team that’s doing something you’ve never done yourself, and how an older worker can leverage their experience to help the team.If you have a question that you’d like Ken to answer in a future episode, you can email it to him at ken@clar...2024-05-2120 min
The Clarity Advisors Show92 Dr. Christopher Fischer -- Using psychology to gain clarity on culture and teamsTerms like "culture" and "teams" are used a lot in business, but getting a shared understanding of what those words mean can be challenging. Dr. Christopher Fischer is a psychologist who works with leaders on the "people side" of their business to help them get clarity and deliver results.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Christopher and host Ken Trupke talk about the importance of creating a clear and intentional culture within a company, and the need for leaders to differentiate between a "team" and a "work group".Timestamps(01:09): About...2024-05-0738 min
The Clarity Advisors Show90 Ken Trupke -- Timeless truths to help build your teamOn the previous episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke explained the difference between timely trends and timeless truths and shared some timely trends leaders need to understand.In this episode, Ken offers three timeless truths that have been -- and will continue to be -- true for you to build and lead a successful team.Timestamps(00:20): Introduction.(01:10): Timeless truth No. 1: Communication.(02:39): Synchronous and in-person communication.(05:17): Both sides of the DISC profile are important.(07:42): Timeless truth No. 2: Culture trumps skills.(09:34): Timeless truth No. 3: Appreciation.2024-04-2312 min
The Clarity Advisors Show89 Ken Trupke -- Timely trends to help build your teamWhen building and growing your team, there are timely trends and timeless truths. And you need to appreciate both, as well as know the difference between them.On this edition of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke offers three timely trends to which leaders need to pay attention. Next week, he’ll look at some timeless truths that have been – and always will be – keys to building strong teams.Timestamps(00:37): Timely trends vs. timeless truths.(03:24): Timely trend No. 1: Remote work.(08:15): Timely trend No. 2: Generational differences.(13:00): Timely trend No. 3: Artifi...2024-04-1619 min
The Clarity Advisors Show88 Ken Trupke -- Ask Me Anything: Growing your skills, recognizing good work, and using AIOn this "Ask Me Anything" episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke answers your questions. This week he tackles how to grow your skills without a company training plan, ways to show appreciation to team members when you can’t give them bonuses, and how to start using AI in your work.If you have a question that you’d like Ken to answer in a future episode, you can email it to him at ken@clarityadvisors.io.Timestamps(00:20): Introduction(00:40): Question #1: How to grow skills on your own.(01:21): Inve...2024-04-0924 min
The Clarity Advisors Show87 Ken Trupke -- Why and how to start using AI in your businessArtificial Intelligence now seems to be part of every business conversation. However, some leaders are still reluctant to use AI.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke shares why you should consider AI and how you might overcome your team's reluctance to embrace it.Timestamps(00:19): Broad overview of artificial intelligence (AI).(00:56): How AI is being used.(01:38): Most common responses to AI.(02:39): Suggested responses.(03:18): Automate repetitive tasks.(03:33): Analyze lots of data quickly and accurately.(05:30): Other popular uses. (05:40): Content creation and curation.(06:07...2024-04-0215 min
The Clarity Advisors Show86 Ken Trupke -- March Madness lessons for your teamMarch Madness is underway, and watching the top college basketball teams compete for a national championship provides lessons for business teams.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke looks at principles like teamwork, perseverance, communication, limiting mistakes, and being willing to take chances, that work both on and off the court.Timestamps(00:19): March Madness explained.(01:10): Similarities between basketball teams and your team.(02:19): Responding to pressure.(02:49): Three keys to winning.(03:10): Three-pointers.(03:43): Limiting turnovers.(05:05): Rebounding.(07:41): Final thoughts.Episode...2024-03-2611 min
The Clarity Advisors Show83 Ken Trupke -- More advice for my younger selfA year ago (in Episode 21) host Ken Trupke shared five pieces of advice he would like to give to his 20-something self. On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, he offers five more things he wishes he had known earlier in his life and career.Timestamps(00:36): No. 1 – Invest in yourself.(02:02): No. 2 – Be a coach, not a boss.(03:20): No. 3 – Learn to sell.(05:00): No. 4 – Own it, but don’t own it.(06:32): No. 5 – Put people first.(08:30): Quick review.(09:04): Which of the five resonated with you?Episode Quot...2024-03-0509 min
The Clarity Advisors Show82 Mike Smallegan -- The power of putting people firstBuilding a stable and successful team in real estate can be tricky because it's so easy for agents to enter the business and then move from team to team. Today’s guest started his own group after being frustrated by the business models of other brokerages.Mike Smallegan is the leader of Smallegan Real Estate. On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, he talks with host Ken Trupke about why he started his own team and how he puts them first so they can serve their clients well.Timestamps(00:56): About Sm...2024-02-2728 min
The Clarity Advisors Show81 Gary Pinkerton -- Agency, freedom, and leadership lessonsAgency is not a word most people use to describe what they want in their life, but it's a key principle of a free society. It means taking control of your life rather than waiting for things to happen. Gary Pinkerton saw his family struggle financially during the 1970's and after a time in the Navy as a submarine captain, he entered the world of personal finance and wealth management.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Gary talks with host Ken Trupke about leadership lessons he learned in the Navy, and how he...2024-02-2043 min
The Clarity Advisors Show80 Ken Trupke -- Interviewing to find your ideal teammatesOne of the keys to building a great team is hiring great teammates. And a key part of the hiring process is interviewing. When you've built an intentional culture, you need a very intentional process for vetting people who might join your team. On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke shares his 12-step interview process. It will probably take longer than your current process, but sometimes you need to slow down to go fast, and this will help you get it right the first time.Timestamps(00:20...2024-02-1325 min
The Clarity Advisors Show79 Daniel White -- Building a bigger, better businessTo build a great team and business, you need to focus on your people and your processes. Today’s guest, Daniel White, started Bigger Better Movers in 2017 and it's now the fastest-growing moving company in Oklahoma.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Daniel talks to host Ken Trupke about how he’s found success by being very intentional about his culture, his team, and the systems that operate his business.Timestamps(00:57): About Bigger Better Movers.(01:24): What makes Bigger Better Movers unique.(01:57): Pandemic origins.(02:33): Choosing a moving comp...2024-02-0632 min
The Clarity Advisors Show78 Ken Trupke -- Seven reasons why you need a budgetIt’s the end of January, and hopefully you’re already up and running with your 2024 budget -- or you’re at least finalizing your plan after getting year-end numbers. But if you don't have a budget and don't plan to make one, please reconsider.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke offers seven reasons why your business should have a budget and explains how to get started creating one.Timestamps(01:15): Difference between personal and business budgets(02:00): Seven reasons for a budget(02:11): No. 7 – Evaluate...2024-01-3014 min
The Clarity Advisors Show77 Kyle Roof -- The Accidental Startup: Turning a tool into a businessHave you ever invented something for your business and realized other businesses could also benefit from using it? That’s what today’s guest did.Kyle Roof started a search engine optimization business – High Voltage SEO -- and needed a tool to help him serve clients. He created Page Optimizer Pro and launched a second business selling it to other SEO agencies.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Kyle joins host Ken Trupke to share some stories of growth and figuring things out.Timestamps(01:04): Why Thailand?(0...2024-01-2329 min
The Clarity Advisors Show76 Nick Loise -- Using fractional salespeople to build your teamBuilding teams is always a challenge and putting together a strong sales team can be especially difficult. Today’s guest has built multiple successful sales teams over the years.Nick Loise is the CEO of the Sales Performance Team, a company that provides businesses with fractional salespeople. On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, he tells host Ken Trupke how he helps firms engage clients, hire the right people, and use a phone-first approach to win business.Timestamps(00:51): About the Sales Performance Team and fractional sales.(03:40): Options for engaging cli...2024-01-1636 min
The Clarity Advisors Show75 Kirk Martin -- Applying good parenting principles to the workplaceWhether it's a teammate at work or a child at home, helping others to improve can be frustrating, especially when they don’t respond to consequences...and maybe push your buttons.Today’s guest has spent decades working with thousands of families with strong-willed children. Kirk Martin is the founder of Celebrate Calm and host of the Calm Parenting Podcast. On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, he and host Ken Trupke look at the overlap between good parenting principles and good leadership principles and share practical tips to help you be a better pare...2024-01-0941 min
The Clarity Advisors Show74 Joe Pici -- Starting the New Year off rightAs we kick off a new year, we want to start strong and then build momentum, especially when it comes to sales. Today's guest is an expert at helping sales teams plan their work and then work the plan to achieve their goals.Joe Pici is a master sales trainer and coach known for helping his clients book more appointments and close more business. He’s joined us multiple times on The Clarity Advisors Show and he’s back to talk with host Ken Trupke about starting the New Year off right with goal-setting, metrics, and accountability....2024-01-0220 min
The Clarity Advisors Show73 Ken Trupke -- Setting yourself up for success in 2024It’s the week between Christmas and New Year’s, a time that’s typically slow for many businesses. This "down time" offers an opportunity to reflect on the things that are working for your business and identify what you can do in the coming year to improve and grow.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke explains why you should spend a couple hours looking back and ahead to the New Year, and suggests some things for you to focus on in the process.Timestamps(00:21): Introduction.(0...2023-12-2617 min
The Clarity Advisors Show72 Phil Sponsler -- Creating the right succession plan for your organizationOne of the key responsibilities of a leader is to think about the future. That includes considering things like how to prepare teammates to take the next step in their career, and how to adjust the organization when a key teammate moves on. Today’s guest has spent decades thinking about succession planning and then creating and implementing tools and structures to address these issues. Phil Sponsler was the longtime president of Orbitform, a manufacturing company in Jackson, Michigan. He joined us on a previous episode of The Clarity Advisors Show to discuss servant leadership, and he’s bac...2023-12-1933 min
The Clarity Advisors Show71 Joe Lemon -- How podcasting can help grow your businessPodcasting has grown significantly over the last decade, from a few hundred thousand to now over 2 million registered podcasts. And while nearly everyone has heard of podcasting, few people have their own podcast and even fewer people use it to grow their business. Today’s guest, Joe Lemon, is the founder of Shaping Culture, a media agency focused on generating revenue. On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Joe talks with host Ken Trupke about how he helps micro business leaders have more conversations, build referral partners, and generate high-quality leads. He also shares how you can...2023-12-1225 min
The Clarity Advisors Show70 Bart Egnal -- The importance of communication in leadershipCommunication skills are the foundation of leading teams. Every time you speak or write, you have the chance to shape beliefs and inspire others to act.Today’s guest, Bart Egnal, is the CEO of the Humphrey Group, a firm focused on teaching leadership communication skills to executive leaders.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Bart and host Ken Trupke talk about the role communication plays in leadership.Timestamps(00:57): About the Humphrey Group(02:04): Who the Humphrey Group serves(02:40): The role communication plays in the success of leaders(05:01): Ho...2023-12-0536 min
The Clarity Advisors Show69 Jon Tellier -- Leading teams during and after military serviceNowhere is leadership more important than in the military, and many of the principles and strategies are just as effective in business.Today’s guest, Jon Tellier, is a West Point graduate and was an active-duty officer before starting JetCo Solutions, a business which helps companies enter new markets, including all levels of government.In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Jon shares with host Ken Trupke what he's learned about growing and leading teams both during and after his service.Timestamps(01:07): The typical JetCo Solutions customer(01:53): What ma...2023-11-2833 min
The Clarity Advisors Show68 Keri Kujala -- Effectively leading a team in two locationsThere are many challenges in leading and building teams, and one of them can be distance. Today’s guest has found a way to grow a successful business with her team separated by over a hundred miles in two locations on opposite sides of the state.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Keri Kujala, co-owner of Special Occasions Event Rental and Design shares with host Ken Trupke how she and her business partner manage logistics and find creative ways to enhance the event experience for individuals, organizations, and groups across the state.Tim...2023-11-2128 min
The Clarity Advisors Show67 Ken Trupke -- Staying motivated once your business becomes successfulBuilding a business is hard work. And if you’ve reached a certain level and made "enough" money, you might lose your motivation to keep growing.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke shares three things besides money, that could motivate you to take the next step to grow your business.Timestamps(02:42): Idea One - Motivated by contributing to charitable organizations(03:27): Idea Two - Motivated by growing people into skilled experts(05:01): Idea Three - Motivated by providing opportunities to people to impact their families and communities2023-11-1410 min
The Clarity Advisors Show66 Dan Pfister -- How winning back lost clients beats finding new onesEvery business loses customers. And while every company is actively looking to add new business and grow, few companies go back to revisit lost or forgotten accounts.Today's guest, Dan Pfister, specializes in helping companies “win back” lost customers. Through his company, Winback Labs, Dan focuses on helping companies recapture lost revenue by targeting the clients who got away. On this edition of The Clarity Advisors Show, Dan shares with host Ken Trupke, some new ways to approach old customers.Timestamps(00:54): What WinBack does(02:03): WinBack’s typical client(02:27): What makes WinBack’s approach...2023-11-0729 min
The Clarity Advisors Show65 Sarah Abel -- Using data insights to fuel growthMaking decisions is a core responsibility for leaders. Good decisions start with good information. And good information requires good data. Today’s guest, Sarah Abel, is the Chief Operating Officer for TR Data Strategy, which helps bring growth and measured value to clients ranging in size from startups to the nation's largest retailers.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Sarah and host Ken Trupke discuss how data – combined with insights and execution – can transform all aspects of an organization.Timestamps(00:58): TR Data Strategy’s typical clients(03:11): Collecting and pres...2023-10-3127 min
The Clarity Advisors Show63 Michelle L. Steffes -- Supporting your team's mental healthOctober is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to learn more about something that touches us all directly or indirectly. As leaders, we should understand the significance of mental health, explore ways to foster resilience, and offer strategies, insights, and actionable steps to support our team.Today’s guest, Michelle Steffes. is a published author, speaker, corporate trainer, podcast host, and the founder and CEO of IPV Consulting. She's also the creator of multiple coaching and training programs that help people win by changing their brain and discovering the power within.On this episode of Th...2023-10-1731 min
The Clarity Advisors Show62 James Mayhew -- Why execution is as important as great culture, strategyCreating a great business culture is a popular topic these days and strategic planning has been a management staple for decades. But execution – actually accomplishing your business goals and serving your customers – is also a critical piece of business success.Today’s guest coaches and trains companies to understand the value of culture and how to build and strengthen it to get better results. James Mayhew, known as America’s Chief Culture Officer, returns to The Clarity Advisors Show to share with host Ken Trupke how he helps his clients communicate expectations, priorities, and outcomes so everyb...2023-10-1032 min
The Clarity Advisors Show60 Ken Trupke -- Handling hefty raise requestsOne of your most important responsibilities as a leader is to make sure your team members are compensated fairly. That can be especially challenging when job responsibilities and market conditions change.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke shares the story of "Jacob," a leader who has been approached by his teammate, "Riley,” who is asking for a 25% pay increase.Ken helps Jacob determine whether the pay hike is warranted by considering Riley’s job performance along with factors such as the cost to replace her and how she fits with the...2023-09-2619 min
The Clarity Advisors Show59 Ken Trupke -- How culture and core values affect performanceAs a leader, one of your core responsibilities is to assess the performance of the individuals on your team and help them be successful.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke shares the story of "Kayla", a leader who has been struggling to help her teammate, "Drew", improve his performance. Ken helps Kayla isolate the possible causes of Drew's issues and helps her frame the next conversations with him. Along the way he walks through ways leaders can clearly communicate what's expected, let teammates know where they stand, and help them i...2023-09-1915 min
The Clarity Advisors Show58 Krystal Parker -- The AI revolution and its impact on the workforceArtificial Intelligence, or "AI", is one of the hottest topics today as more companies use it to streamline operations, increase productivity, and improve customer service. And while it seems like AI just recently burst onto the scene, today’s guest wrote a book two years ago, called The Best Robot Wins, which touched on the coming wave of AI in the workplace and its potential benefits and disruptions.Krystal Parker is the president of the U.S. Christian Chamber of Commerce as well as an author and business consultant. On this episode of The Clarity Ad...2023-09-1235 min
The Clarity Advisors Show57 Doug Heulitt -- Using personalized videos to connect with top prospectsConnecting with people who could benefit from your business solution has always been a challenge. In some ways, technology has made it easier, but there's often so much noise that you still can't get the attention you need.Today’s guest on The Clarity Advisors Show, Doug Heulitt, has extensive experience as a sales rep and sales manager. In this episode, he tells host Ken Trupke how he teaches sales reps to use personalized video to connect with their best prospects.Timestamps(00:56): The problems Doug Heulitt solves(01:15): How Doug got st...2023-09-0527 min
The Clarity Advisors Show56 Tom Olive -- Using numbers to align teams and drive growthAs leaders, we're continually teaching and coaching our teams. Today’s guest has done that for years as a top executive and now he’s doing it in the classroom.Tom Olive has been the CEO at a nutrition products company, an automotive textile manufacturing company, and most recently, at a large fuel distributor. His background is in accounting and finance, and in this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, he and host Ken Trupke talk about using numbers to help align and engage teams teams to drive business growth and success. ...2023-08-2929 min
The Clarity Advisors Show55 First-year highlights Part 3: Generational differences, managing change, personal development, and building trustWe’re starting the second season of The Clarity Advisors Show with a three-part series looking back at highlights from our first year. In this third and final installment, host Ken Trupke's guests discuss generational differences, managing change, personal development, and building trust.Timestamps(00:50): Joe Mull(03:43): Paige Cornetet(04:48): Michelle Voss(07:44): Adam Sutton(09:45): Bill Poole(10:36): Joe Pici(11:35): Tara Kinney(13:54): Ken Misiewicz(15:16): Nolan King(16:42): Jason Dodge(18:57): Nelson Wilner(20:18): Michelle Steffes(22:17): Joshua Washington(24:27): Kristi NowrouziEpisode Quotes“...2023-08-2227 minThe Clarity Advisors Show54 First-year highlights Part 2: Managing teams, communication, and attracting and retaining talentWe’re kicking off the second year of The Clarity Advisors Show with a three-part series looking back at highlights from our first year. In Part 2, host Ken Trupke's guests discuss managing teams, communication, and attracting and retaining talent.Timestamps(00:50): Danna Gomez(02:04): Joe Miller(03:25): Michelle Voss(05:05): Joe Pici(05:52): Krystal Parker(08:45): David Nemes(10:27): Max Friar(11:18): Joshua Washington(12:42): Randy Crawford(14:28): Kelly Plawinski(15:39): Joe Pici(16:44): Russ Climie(18:59): Kelly Plawinski(21:27): Gary VonMyhr(22:45): Ben Wolf(25:19): Max Friar(26:25): Tom Gentry(27:33): Paige Cornetet2023-08-1530 minThe Clarity Advisors Show53 First-year highlights Part 1: Leadership and the importance of culture when building teamsWe’re kicking off the second year of The Clarity Advisors Show with a three-part series looking back at highlights from the first 52 episodes. In this week’s show, host Ken Trupke's guests discuss leadership and the importance of culture when building teams.Timestamps (00:19): Phil Sponsler (02:39): Bo Short (03:50): Joe Ponds (05:16): Matt Baxter (06:11): Bo Short (08:19): Harry Spaight (09:50): Bo Short (11:09): Michelle Steffes (12:26): Daryl Dixon (14:50): James Mayhew (15:54): Chris Wilson (17:37): Jen Hamilton (20:11): Randy Joppie (22:01): Jen HamiltonEpisode Qu...2023-08-0823 min
The Clarity Advisors Show52 Joe Pici -- Remote work, and its impact on sales teamsRemote work has changed the landscape of business over the last few years, and perhaps no area has been affected more than the sales process. Today’s guest on The Clarity Advisors Show is an expert at guiding teams through those changes.Joe Pici is a master sales trainer and coach, known for teaching his clients how to book more appointments and close more business. In this episode, Joe and host Ken Trupke talk about what has changed with remote work and what’s still true in the world of sales.Timestamps(01:02): Pivo...2023-08-0126 min
The Clarity Advisors Show51 Tom Gentry -- Lessons from a CFO on building teams and business successA fractional Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is becoming more common for businesses that don’t need -- or can’t afford -- the full-time services of a top-level executive.Today’s guest, Tom Gentry, is a veteran CFO who’s worked for several companies, including PricewaterhouseCoopers, and is now focusing on fractional leadership as a Regional Director for The CFO Centre.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Tom shares with host, Ken Trupke, lessons about building great teams and business success from the perspective of the finance leader.Timestamps(01:1...2023-07-2527 min
The Clarity Advisors Show50 Ken Trupke -- Staying profitable during uncertain economic timesThe economy is always uncertain to some degree, but right now it feels even more so with a possible recession looming and continued inflation. The best way to prepare for that uncertainty -- so you can stay in business and continue to serve your customers -- is to become more profitable.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke talks about improving profitability by cutting costs, increasing productivity, growing sales, embracing technology, and investing in your team. Episode Quotes “You're going to be surprised by all the thin...2023-07-1825 min
The Clarity Advisors Show48 Kelly Plawinski -- From global corporation to transforming small businessWorking on cross-functional teams in large global corporations is very different from working in small business, and today’s guest has done both.Kelly Plawinski is the Chief Operating Officer at Adamy Valuation. Prior to coming to Adamy in 2017, Kelly spent more than a decade in finance with Ford Motor Company. Recruited to Adamy to drive transformation, Kelly now focuses on the firm’s firm strategy and vision, operations, finance, and overseeing human resources.In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Kelly talks with host Ken Trupke about her career, the differences between large and...2023-07-0430 min
The Clarity Advisors Show47 Bill Poole -- Removing sales as the barrier to your company’s successGrowing sales is a priority for every healthy business. And sales is also an area that’s starting to benefit from fractional leadership. Today’s guest, Bill Poole, is President and Client Success Director at Convergo, a firm which helps entrepreneurs sell more services to the right businesses through systematization and fractional leadership.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Bill and host Ken Trupke discuss how sales shouldn’t be a barrier that prevents businesses from reaching their full potential.Timestamps(00:59): Bill’s sales background(02:57): The impor...2023-06-2729 min
The Clarity Advisors Show46 Ken Trupke -- Six ways to reduce and resolve conflict in the workplaceConflict is something most of us don't like, especially in the workplace. But whenever there are people working together, there is going to be friction and disagreements. And when conflict happens, it doesn't usually go away by itself.In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke offers three tips for resolving conflict in the workplace and three tips for reducing conflict in the first place.Timestamps (00:20) Tips to resolve conflict in the workplace(00:45) No. 1 – Breathe and relax(02:50) No. 2 – Define the problem(05:40) No. 3 – Communicate synchro...2023-06-2021 min
The Clarity Advisors Show45 Phil Sponsler -- Revisiting the concept of servant leadershipTo be a great leader, you need to truly believe you are there for your team, and not the other way around. It's called Servant Leadership. And very few people understand and have lived the principles of servant leadership as intentionally and as deeply as today’s guest.Phil Sponsler has spent more than 20 years as a driving force for continuous improvement while building teams at Orbitform. In one of the first episodes of The Clarity Advisors Show, he and host Ken Trupke talked about servant leadership. Phil's wisdom and insights were so valuable that we’re shar...2023-06-1331 min
The Clarity Advisors Show44 Joe Pici and Ken Trupke -- Hiring, leading and retaining top salespeopleThe sales team is a critical part of the success of any business. And hiring, leading, and retaining exceptional salespeople is always a challenge.Ken Trupke, host of The Clarity Advisors Show, recently appeared on the Sales Edge podcast, with Joe Pici to discuss selecting and interviewing candidates, on-boarding, metrics, accountability, and other aspects of building a great sales team.Joe is a master sales trainer and coach, known for teaching his clients how to book more appointments and close more business. He’s been a guest on our show before, but this week we’re c...2023-06-0628 min
The Clarity Advisors Show43 Max Friar -- Building a team in the world of mergers and acquisitionsIn the world of mergers and acquisitions you see a lot of teams...but you also have your own team.Today’s guest, Max Friar, runs Calder Capital, a firm he started ten years ago. He’s built a team that helps business owners sell and entrepreneurs buy. On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Max and host Ken Trupke discuss the challenges of building a team, and what Max is seeing in the businesses he advises. Timestamps (01:04): History of Calder Capital(02:19): Buy side vs. sell side re...2023-05-3028 min
The Clarity Advisors Show42 Tara Kinney -- Using accountability to grow profitsAccountability often gets a bad rap, but done right, it creates autonomy, authority, agency, return on investment, and a lot fewer hours of painful conversations about who’s doing what and what is -- and what isn’t -- getting done.Today’s guest, Tara Kinney, is a growth strategist. Through Atomic Growth, the company she co-founded, she helps business owners and executives use data to align people and processes to generate profits. On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Tara and host Ken Trupke discuss how to align your team for successful growth and why...2023-05-2335 min
The Clarity Advisors Show41 Ken Trupke -- Selling from each behavior styleSales isn't about being that glad-handing, back-slapping, joke-telling, nutty person who loves to talk. Sales is about helping people get something that's they want that they couldn't get without your help.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke explains how each of the four DISC behavior styles have qualities that can help anyone succeed in sales.Related content: Check out Ken’s previous episode, “Improving communication with DISC,” on audio and video.Timestamps(00:21): Introduction(01:09): What sales is all about(02:50): The DISC m...2023-05-1618 min
The Clarity Advisors Show40 David Nemes -- Ensuring a smooth transition during an ownership changeWhen a business is sold, it can create a lot of anxiety and challenges for both the existing team and the new owners. Communication is critical to making the transition as smooth as possible so the business can continue and grow. Today’s guest, David Nemes, is an entrepreneur and an active business investor who's been part of several acquisitions.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, David and host Ken Trupke discuss the challenges that come with the transition to new ownership, and David talks about his experience working on bank closures.2023-05-0929 min
The Clarity Advisors Show39 Jen Hamilton -- Advancing from chaos & confusion to sustainable growthThe workplace is constantly evolving, and we’ve certainly noticed more rapid change these past few years. Fractional leaders, like our guest today, see the effect of those changes first-hand and bring solutions to a variety of organizations.Jen Hamilton is a Factional Chief Operating Officer, with Wolf’s Edge Integrators. On this episode of The Clarity Advisors show, Jen and host Ken Trupke discuss the changes she’s observed in the workplace and how she takes clients "from chaos and confusion to sustainable growth".Related content: Check out this previous episode with guest...2023-05-0233 min
The Clarity Advisors Show38 Ken Trupke -- 10 tips to help you network the right wayWhen it comes to networking, many of us immediately think of those mixers where insurance agents and financial advisors are running around handing out business cards and invading your personal space. But it doesn't have to be that way.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke offers 10 tips to network the right way and help you turn networking into a positive experience.Timestamps(01:00): Tip #1 – Be friendly.(01:52): Tip #2 – Be curious.(02:40): Tip #3 – Be genuine.(03:00): Tip #4 – Listen more than you talk.(03:50): Tip #5 – Know what you do.(05:20...2023-04-2516 min
The Clarity Advisors Show37 Ken Trupke -- Balancing the people-oriented and task-oriented sides of leadershipAs a leader, it’s important to make sure members of your team feel valued and appreciated (be people-oriented). But you also need to get things done (be task-oriented). Most leaders are strong in one area but struggle in the other.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke offers four tips that work together to address both the people-oriented and task-oriented sides of leadership.Timestamps (01:17): Tip #1 – Be clear about what’s expected(03:21): Tip #2 – Jump in early when performance is off(06:30): Tip #3 – Build systems to...2023-04-1814 min
The Clarity Advisors Show36 Paige Cornetet -- Finding and using the strengths of the Millennials on your teamWe've heard that Millennials are different from other generations. And whether you are a Millennial - or you have Millennials on your team - there are things you can do to be more effective and successful working together. Today’s guest, Paige Cornetet, is the founder of Millennial Guru, a company that coaches and trains clients on finance, innovation, and building teams based on strengths. She’s also the bestselling author of a collection of children’s books to help parents teach kids about money.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Paige explains to host...2023-04-1131 min
The Clarity Advisors Show35 Joe Mull -- Attracting and retaining talent in a changing job marketChanging expectations about the role of work can make it feel like it’s harder than ever to find and keep dedicated employees. Today’s guest, Joe Mull, has spent more than 15 years teaching leaders how to be better bosses and create thriving workplaces.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Joe and host Ken Trupke talk about how to turn your organization into a destination workplace and transform ordinary people into devoted employees.Timestamps(00:53): Joe’s background(02:18): Hiring challenges and staffing shortages(04:11): Keeping employees from switching(0...2023-04-0432 min
The Clarity Advisors Show34 Michelle L. Steffes -- Leadership begins with self-masteryIt's been said that to be a leader, the first person you need to lead is yourself. And often there's a lot we need to work through before we can be that successful leader. Today’s guest, Michelle L. Steffes, is a coach and trainer focusing on transforming performance through her company, IPV.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Michelle and host Ken Trupke talk about self-mastery, and how it helps leaders bring out the best in everyone on the team.Timestamps(00:53): What is IPV?(01:34): Defining se...2023-03-2835 min
The Clarity Advisors Show33 Ken Trupke -- Six characteristics of a winning teamEvery team is different, but there are some traits that winning teams have in common. In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke shares his list of the six most important characteristics of a winning team.Timestamps (00:43): No. 1 – Define clear goals(02:32): No. 2 – Have clear roles and responsibilities(03:59): No. 3 – Do your job first(06:39): No. 4 – Keep growing and getting better(08:02): No. 5 – Embrace diversity(11:23): No. 6 – Develop high trust(13:41): SummaryEpisode Quotes“If you want your team to be aligned and engaged wit...2023-03-2115 min
The Clarity Advisors Show32 Ben Wolf -- How Fractional Leadership can improve your businessHas your business grown to the point where it needs high-level executive expertise, but you aren’t big enough that you can afford to hire the right person full time? A “fractional leader” might be a great solution. Today’s guest, Ben Wolf, has literally written the book on the concept. And on this edition of The Clarity Advisors Show, Ben and host Ken Trupke discuss the growing trend of fractional leadership and how it can help small and mid-sized businesses get to the next level.Timestamps(00:51): What is fractiona...2023-03-1433 min
The Clarity Advisors Show31 Bo Short -- Leadership, business, and navigating the changing marketplaceOne of the ways to get better as a leader is to listen to other leaders. Today’s guest, Bo Short, is a speaker and author with more than three decades of experience leading companies and speaking to audiences around the globe about leadership, business, and navigating the ever-changing marketplace.In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Bo shares some of his wisdom and insights with host Ken Trupke.Timestamps(01:41): Does Bo's message change in other countries?(04:15): Five attributes of leadership(07:28): Practice is failing(08:50): Bo’s ba...2023-03-0732 min
The Clarity Advisors Show30 Kristi Nowrouzi - Building a team and increasing production without burning outWhen you start a business, it’s usually because you see a need in the market that’s not being met, or you think you can do something better than it’s currently being done. But sometimes you just need a change and want to do your own thing. That was the case with today’s guest.Kristi Nowrouzi is the Regional Manager of G7 Networking and a top-producing loan officer with Geneva Financial. She’s also a speaker, author, and podcaster.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Kristi shares with host Ken Trupke how...2023-02-2834 min
The Clarity Advisors Show28 Ken Trupke -- Drawing the line between management and micromanagementAs a leader, one of the worst things you can be accused of is being a “micro-manager”. When you’re responsible for getting things done, where do you draw the line between managing and micro-managing?In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke explains the importance of defining a “what” and a “how” when leading members of your team. It’s the leader’s responsibility and role to define the “what,” while the person assigned the task is responsible for “how” it gets done. Micro-management is when you tell people what you want and how you want it done. ...2023-02-2120 min
The Clarity Advisors Show28 Michelle Voss -- Inheriting a team vs. building one from scratchAs a leader, sometimes you’re faced with building a team from scratch, while other times you inherit an existing team. Today’s guest has experience with both. Michelle Voss has spent nearly three decades in the logistics industry and is currently the Director of Special Products for L&M Transportation Services in Jacksonville, Florida. In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Michelle and host Ken Trupke discuss hiring and training practices, along with the importance of focusing on what you’re good at while still knowing the basics of everyone’s job. They also talk about br...2023-02-1432 min
The Clarity Advisors Show27 Russ Climie -- An outsider’s view of the best and worst companiesIf you could spend a few hours with hundreds of different teams, you’d be able to see what the best ones are doing. Today’s guest, Russ Climie, has seen the good, the bad, and the ugly during his nearly 20 years as a professional business photographer.In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Russ shares his insights and observations with host Ken Trupke.Episode highlightsProfessional photographs are more important than ever in the digital world.Making people comfortable is key to getting a good photo.Three indicators of a good...2023-02-0729 min
The Clarity Advisors Show26 Jason Dodge -- How a leader's role evolves as the team growsAs you grow your team, you’re likely to find your role changing as you offload some of your tasks. Today’s guest, Jason Dodge, started his search engine optimization (SEO) business, BlackTruck Media + Marketing, 14 years ago and his role continues to evolve as his company grows and the market changes.In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Jason explains to host Ken Trupke exactly what search engine optimization is and shares what he’s learned while building a team in a fast-paced, ever-changing industry.Episode HighlightsWhat search engine...2023-01-3132 min
The Clarity Advisors Show25 Ken Trupke -- How your team can benefit from a daily huddleAs we start the new year, we’re all looking to grow our teams and build our cultures. What if there was a way you could do this by investing just 10 minutes of your company’s workday? In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke explains how the daily huddle brings people together, gets them on the same page, and helps increase productivity in measurable ways.Episode HighlightsA daily huddle helps both the workplace culture and productivity.The huddle is especially valuable with more team members working remotely.Start with...2023-01-2415 min
The Clarity Advisors Show24 Harry Spaight -- Stepping out on your own after a successful careerHave you had a successful career and then considered stepping away to do your own thing -- maybe consult, speak, or write a book? Today’s guest, Harry Spaight, is a former missionary who took what he learned from that field and successfully applied it to sales. Now he’s helping people step out of traditional corporate roles and promote their new ventures.In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Harry talks with host Ken Trupke about his challenges and success in sales, how his time as a missionary helped him develop a servant mindset, and...2023-01-1732 min
The Clarity Advisors Show23 Ken Trupke -- Improving communication with DISCCommunication is critical in all aspects of life, but it also can be one of the biggest challenges. There are times we think we’re communicating when we actually aren’t. The message is being sent, but it’s not being received. Improving communication leads to better results and better relationships, whether at home or in the workplace.In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke discusses DISC, which is an assessment tool that helps identify behavior types so you can determine the best way to communicate with someone. Knowing how you tend to behave...2023-01-1026 min
The Clarity Advisors Show22 Joe Pici -- Aligning and engaging your team for success in 2023Joe Pici was the very first guest on The Clarity Advisors Show, and he returns for the first episode of 2023. Joe is a master sales trainer and coach who teaches his clients how to book more appointments and close more business. In this episode, Joe talks with host Ken Trupke about his “Strategic Momentum Intensive” coaching with its three-pronged approach to helping businesses and teams focus on what they need to do to succeed in the upcoming year. Episode HighlightsJoe’s “Strategic Momentum Intensive” coaching sessions. The importance of a SWOT (Strengths...2023-01-0331 min
The Clarity Advisors Show21 Ken Trupke -- What advice would you give your 20-something self?As we close out 2022 and look ahead to 2023, it’s a good time to reflect on the lessons we’ve learned – both in the last year and throughout our lives. What advice would you – at your current age – give your 20-something self?On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke shares five things he’s learned over the years that have helped him grow both personally and professionally. Of course, there are many more, but these are five that stand out and can hopefully help you in business and life.Timestamps...2022-12-2723 min
The Clarity Advisors Show20 Dr. Timothy M. Williams Sr. -- Leading teams and shaping cultureLeading teams and shaping the culture in large corporations can be very different than in smaller and medium-sized businesses. But there are principles and practices that work regardless of company size. Today’s guest, Dr. Timothy M. Williams Sr., is a transformation expert. He spent nearly four decades in various roles with such corporate giants as Procter & Gamble and Kodak before starting his own consulting firm, Org-Transformation Group. On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Dr. Tim talks with host Ken Trupke about his background, his progression from engineering to manufacturing to human resources, and...2022-12-2036 min
The Clarity Advisors Show19 Matt Baxter -- Building teams as a young leaderWorking together is how we get things done. If you’re starting a business, you might be on your own for a while, but eventually you’ll have to assemble a team. That’s the path followed by today’s guest, Matt Baxter. He’s the CEO of Wedge, an online HR video software company.Matt started Wedge in 2015 by himself and quickly started building a team. In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Matt talks with host Ken Trupke about growing his team, hiring without looking at resumes, and the challenges of being a younger leader.2022-12-1332 min
The Clarity Advisors Show18 Joshua Washington -- Building high-performing teams through communicationTeams are made up of individuals, and good leaders understand one size does not fit all. Today’s guest, Joshua Washington, is the owner of Lee Malveaux, a business consulting firm helping companies attract, retain, grow, and support their people.On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Joshua and host Ken Trupke talk about communication as the root of business growth and Joshua breaks down the acronym MICRO in micro-conversations. They also discuss how to measure the three major intrinsic motivators and how to improve performance and relationships to push your business forward.Ep...2022-12-0627 min
The Clarity Advisors Show17 James Mayhew -- Culture, performance, and communicationEach team has its own distinct culture – whether by design or not. And culture is important because it signals what is desired and what behavior is unacceptable. Today’s guest is America’s Chief Culture Officer, James Mayhew. James is the host of the Lead Thru Values podcast, and he trains and coaches teams on how to improve their culture to get better results.In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, James and host Ken Trupke discuss how culture and performance are inseparable aspects of business success. James talks about the role of a Chief...2022-11-2930 min
The Clarity Advisors Show16 Randy Joppie -- Putting the pieces together to move a team forwardAs a leader, you don’t have to be the best at everything. Rather, you need to know how to use the strengths of each individual to help the team be successful. Today’s guest is Randy Joppie, Vice President of Employee Benefits at USI Insurance Services. Randy is a business and sales expert leading a team of expert analysts.In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Randy talks with host Ken Trupke about working with a team of specialists, some of the mistakes he’s made in his career, changing technology, and working with te...2022-11-2230 min
The Clarity Advisors Show15 Adam Sutton -- Building and growing teams as a franchisorLeading a single team has plenty of challenges. In the franchise world, you’re working with multiple teams, including the franchisees, the company stores, and the team back at the home office. Each group brings its own unique set of challenges.Today’s guest, Adam Sutton, is president of RNR Tire Express, a rent-to-own tire and wheel concept with stores and teams across the country. On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Adam talks with host Ken Trupke about growing the company after taking the reins from his legendary father, Larry Sutton, and the challenges of worki...2022-11-1535 min
The Clarity Advisors Show14 Ken Trupke -- Building a recession-proof work cultureIf we’re not already in a recession, it certainly looks like we’re going to be. We’ve had two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth, which is the traditional definition of a recession. There have been some attempts to redefine that definition, but regardless, we’re either in one or headed towards one. But this isn’t an economics lesson. On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, host Ken Trupke talks about building a recession-proof culture – how to build a workplace and a team where people want to be there, even during hard times and economic c...2022-11-0838 min
The Clarity Advisors Show13 Nolan King -- The challenges of being a young leader of volunteersBeing a leader is never easy, but it can be especially challenging if you’re leading a sales team, leading volunteers, or if you’re young. And today’s guest on The Clarity Advisors Show is facing all three…and winning! In this episode, Nolan King, the youngest Regional Sales Coordinator at Aflac, talks with host Ken Trupke about overcoming this triple challenge, the lessons he’s learned while building his team, and how hiring a coach has helped him become a better leader. Episode Highlights: Building relationships through actions.Why people ar...2022-11-0129 min
The Clarity Advisors Show12 Nelson Wilner -- Building relationships and trust within teamsAs you advance in your career from frontline supervisor through management and into senior leadership, one thing that doesn’t change is the need to make decisions. Today’s guest is Nelson Wilner, Vice President of Kawasaki Engines USA. On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Nelson talks with host Ken Trupke about his career journey and the lessons he learned from his leaders along the way. Nelson emphasizes the importance of building relationships and mutual trust. And they discuss how to balance leading teams while directing operations and the pluses and minuses of working remotely versu...2022-10-2532 min
The Clarity Advisors Show11 Joe Ponds -- Generating leads for your businessWhen you’re starting a business, one of the first challenges is finding buyers. Today’s guest is Joe Ponds, president of Ponds Consulting and an expert in lead-generation. In this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Joe and host Ken Trupke talk about identifying and targeting high-quality leads for your business. Joe also shares some lessons he learned in law-enforcement and the military to help you communicate better in today’s business world.Episode HighlightsHow to define your target market to get better-quality leads.The key to making a sale is...2022-10-1835 min
The Clarity Advisors Show10 Ken Misiewicz -- Leading an employee-owned companyLeading an employee-owned company doesn’t necessarily mean all the employees think like owners. Today’s guest, Ken Misiewicz, is the President and CEO of Pleune Service Company, an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) company. On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, Ken and host Ken Trupke talk about the unique challenges of running an employee-owned company, building trust throughout the organization, and staying relevant across multiple generations. They also discuss the importance of conveying important information logically while also connecting emotionally. Episode Highlights: How to build and maintain an employe...2022-10-1129 min
The Clarity Advisors Show7 Joseph Roy Miller -- Building a sales team in the remote environmentBuilding teams is already a difficult task. Building a sales team is probably the most difficult.Today’s guest, Joseph Roy Miller, has spent 37 years as a sales professional. On this episode of The Clarity Advisors Show, he and host Ken Trupke talk about building sales teams and encouraging positive improvement as a leader. In today’s remote work environment, additional challenges come up when building sales teams, and it’s especially important to emphasize cohesion within the team. To be an effective remote leader, Joseph emphasizes the importance of self-improvement, creating a cohesive team enviro...2022-09-2027 min