An inspiring story and strategies for entrepreneurs who want to turn their passion into purpose.

Ralph Balber, Founder and President of ALO Property Group LLC, joins Scott Eckart to tell his story of leaving a job that made him miserable to start his company, which has gone on to be a leading commercial real estate brokerage in Indiana.

Ralph shares the values that have helped him shape a fulfilling career, from respecting other people’s time and working harder than anyone else to giving back to the community and doing what you love. You’ll hear how these traits can help you make a career shift, build a business from the ground up, and focus on what matters most.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The Ralph Balber story
• Why you should love what you do and do what you love
• How harsh truths and criticism can be a gift
• Why time is the most valuable resource

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Meet Ralph Balber

(05:57) Entering the restaurant business

(08:24) Mistakes made and lessons learned in business

(11:49) The harsh truth Ralph needed to hear

(14:38) How Ralph changed the course of his career in 30 days

(19:51) The importance of doing what you love

(22:04) Finding the right people to work with

(25:06) A different approach to real estate

(30:41) Time is your only non-renewable resource

(34:20) Bringing family into the business

(42:40) The skills you need to enter real estate

Resources:

Ralph Balber’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ralph-balber-b6bb0012/

ALO Property Group LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alo-property-group-llc/

ALO Property Group website: https://alopg.com/

Join the Velocity Network: https://www.velocoaches.com/

What can focusing on your people’s growth do for your company?

Mike Lantz, founder and CEO of trueU, sits down with Scott Eckart to share his philosophy that people are the greatest strategic advantages a company can have, shaped by his time developing culture and talent at Defenders Direct and F.C. Tucker Company.

Mike talks about the importance of supporting employees in becoming the best versions of themselves, driving strategy with culture, and committing to the company’s values and standards. You’ll hear about the traits a good leader should have, how people thrive when their leaders believe in them, and why companies should hire more than one type of person.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why culture isn’t just about what’s in your break room
• What you should ask to know if a new hire is a good fit
• The different kinds of workers you need on your team

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Meet Mike Lantz

(05:14) Investing in your people grows revenue

(07:13) The role of accountability in building high-performing teams

(10:45) Why culture should be your business strategy

(13:25) Helping people become the best versions of themselves

(21:58) Nature vs. nurture and spotting talent

(29:02) Lessons on diversity from playing in a band

(31:05) What assessment tools are good for

(33:15) The different roles that help a team succeed

(39:40) Feedback is a gift

Resources:

Mike Lantz’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeclantz/

trueU LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trueu/

trueU website: https://trueu.com/

Join the Velocity Network: https://www.velocoaches.com/

What can redesigning your office do for your culture?

Mary Beth Oakes, CEO and owner of Business Furniture, chats with Scott Eckart about transforming the 70-year-old business from a traditional dealership into a company that designs spaces to shape culture, climbing the ranks from showroom manager to CEO in the process.

Mary Beth shares how she changed tracks from journalism to office interior design, how the pandemic impacted their business, and the challenges she faced during a leadership transition. You’ll hear about the competitive edge of a culture-driven company, the vital role of human connection in improving productivity, and what an innovative business model can do for a legacy company.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How listening to your clients’ needs can lead to innovation
• Why teams work better in a thoughtfully-designed office
• What facing challenges can do for your growth

Things to listen for:

(01:35) Meet Mary Beth Oakes

(05:44) Saying yes to a game-changing meeting

(10:37) Early lessons in positivity from her single mom

(17:07) How office design reflects and drives business goals

(18:40) What differentiates Business Furniture from other dealerships

(21:11) The impact of the pandemic on their business

(25:53) Learning to lead through crisis and transition

(29:31) Creating opportunity as a woman in leadership

(32:35) Why college isn’t the only way to your dream career

(35:32) Carving a path for philanthropy within the business

Resources:

Mary Beth Oakes’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marybethoakes/

Business Furniture LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-furniture-choreo/

Business Furniture website: https://businessfurniture.net/

Join the Velocity Network: https://www.velocoaches.com/