Episodes

  • 363 Pricing Boost: Get Paid Well For Your Excellence

    363 Pricing Boost: Get Paid Well For Your Excellence
    May 10 2024
    “Dogs and prospects can smell fear.” - Casey Brown Are you struggling with pricing your products and services confidently? Do you fear presenting proposals to clients and dealing with objections? Are you unsure how to have effective conversations around price increases? If these questions sound familiar, you’re going to love today’s episode featuring Casey Brown, founder of Boost Pricing. Boost Pricing has the singular goal of helping organizations get paid well for their excellence, and in this informative conversation, Casey shares invaluable insights on how to elevate your pricing game and communicate your value effectively to your customers. Sales is challenging, and as someone who’s been in the industry, you know how tough it can be. There’s pressure to be personable, negotiate well, and ask the right questions, yet proposals still get rejected. So, how do you get paid well for your company's superior products and services? In this episode, Casey provides practical tips, strategies, and tactics to boost your pricing confidence and navigate price negotiations successfully. Learn how to deal with customers who focus solely on price and how to differentiate your value proposition effectively. Casey emphasizes the importance of handling client objections well, sharing “The best answer to an objection isn't an answer at all, it's a question. I think questions are a salesperson's superpower and they are largely underused in the price portion and the negotiation process.” She goes on to say “The root of confidence is value. You need to truly understand how your products and service are of value to your customer.” By tuning in, you'll gain insights on: Approaching conversations about pricing with confidence and clarity.Understanding when and how to offer tiered packages to customers.Communicating the value of your offerings to clients to justify your prices.Navigating tricky situations like price match requests and objections. Casey’s wisdom on pricing and negotiation will empower you to become more confident in your sales approach. Don’t miss out on this educational discussion! Timestamps 01:00 - Trace Blackmore invites you to participate in the Global 6K 07:00 - Interview with Casey Brown founder of Pricing Boost 1:01:30 - Lightning round questions 1:10:00 - Drop by Drop With James McDonald Key Quotes from Casey Brown “I think sales is the hardest job in a company. Selling is an incredibly hard profession.” - Casey Brown “Dogs and prospects can smell fear.” - Casey Brown “The root of confidence is value. You need to truly understand how your products and services are of value to your customer.” - Casey Brown “‘No’ is the most powerful word in a sales person's vocabulary, and often the most underused.” - Casey Brown “A price match request is an objective statement of preference from the customer for your company.” - Casey Brown Connect with Casey Brown Phone: 614.679.7999 Email: casey@boostpricing.com Website: boostpricing.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/caseybrownboost/ linkedin.com/company/boostpricing/ Read or Download Casey Brown’s Press Release HERE Links Mentioned The Rising Tide Mastermind Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses Submit a Show Idea AWT (Association of Water Technologies) Books Mentioned Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia MD Make The Noise Go Away: The Power Of An Effective Second-In-Command by Larry G. Linne 10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan Drop By Drop with James In today’s segment, we’re thinking about a line I read in an article called “AWT Recommendations and Guidelines for Corrosion Coupons in Cooling Systems” found under Resources in the Members-Only section of the Association of Water Technologies website. This section of the article was discussing the proper order of installation for corrosion coupons. The line said, “In reality, if an appropriate water treatment program is in place, the actual coupon order will make little or no difference to the results.” That line made my brain stop for a minute. The actual order will make little or no difference to results if an appropriate water treatment program is in place? Hold up! I’ve had the galvanic series drilled into my head for corrosion coupons! The most active or least noble metal or alloy must be placed first…the farthest upstream. What kind of crazy talk is this? Of course, in a perfect world, we wouldn’t do a lot of things. The article goes on to explain further, though. It says, “There is an argument for limiting the number of factors to be considered when analyzing results, and if the coupons are installed according to the galvanic series, any high loss rates will not be blamed on or associated with galvanic differences (regardless of whether these could our could not impact results).” So to keep things logical and free of noise that may only confuse the issue, we ...
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • 362 Navigating 97-005: Insights and Impacts on Potable Water

    362 Navigating 97-005: Insights and Impacts on Potable Water
    May 3 2024
    “Achieving a well with reliable water quality and supply requires a significant amount of effort and work” - Mike Taraszki In this engaging episode of Scaling UP! H2O, hydrogeologist Mike Taraszki delves into California's Process Memo 97-005, a key resource for direct potable water use from extremely impaired sources. If you’re eager to learn about the criteria and steps outlined in Process Memo 97-005 and how to keep your water permits current, this episode provides all the details you need. Mike examines the nationwide impact of 97-005 on potable water and shares his expertise in hydrogeologic principles for environmental investigation and remediation projects. He also highlights trends in potable groundwater, including managing PFAS, water recycling, desalination, and the removal of contaminants and microplastics. Offering practical guidance on the evolving landscape of water treatment technologies, Mike emphasizes the importance of consistent monitoring and adapting treatment trends to address emerging contaminants. His insights equip listeners with a comprehensive understanding of today’s water challenges. "Putting a well in the ground and getting as much water as you want anywhere is just not reasonable, whether it's from a water supply or quality standpoint," Mike notes. He stresses, "We keep discovering new contaminants, and our water supply options are becoming more limited and constrained." Join Trace and Mike for a captivating discussion that will deepen your understanding of the complexities and potential of groundwater management. Don’t miss this chance to expand your knowledge and stay ahead in the dynamic world of water treatment in under an hour! Timestamps 01:00 - Trace Blackmore invites you to solve the Global Water Crisis by joining the Global 6K for Water this year. Learn more at ScalingUpH2O.com/6K 04:10 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals 10:00 - Interview with Mike Taraszki, passionate hydrogeologist about Process Memo 97-005 45:00 - You never know the ripple effect when you share about your water career with others 52:00- Drop by Drop With James McDonald Connect with Mike Taraszki Phone: 510.368.4549 Email: michael.taraszki@wsp.com Website: www.wsp.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michaeltaraszki/ linkedin.com/company/wsp/ Proces Memo 97-005 Policy Resources Process Memo 97-005-R2020 Process Memo 97-005-R2020 User Guide Applicability of Process Memorandum 97-005 Examples of Checklists Links Mentioned Global 6K For Water 347 Ripple Effect: How Utah's Water Strategies Impact Us All 356 Unlocking the Future: Collaborative Water Management National Groundwater Association California’s Groundwater Resources Association (CLU-IN) Contaminated Site Clean-Up Information (ITRC) Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council Audible The Rising Tide Mastermind Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses Submit a Show Idea Drop By Drop with James In today’s segment, I have a “what if” for you. What if the cooling tower’s blowdown stopped flowing? There is no more blowdown going down the drain. Period. First, what could cause this to happen? What could cause a valve to fail closed? What could block the blowdown line? What setting could have been changed in the controller? Second, what would be the impact upon the cooling tower system next? Would the impact be quick or slow? What would the water start to look like? What data in the cooling water system would start to change and in what direction? How could you have detected this problem early and been alerted that action was required? 2024 Events for Water Professionals Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we’ve listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE or using the dropdown menu.
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    55 mins
  • 361 Scaling UP! Your Testing: Answering Listener Questions About Water Testing

    361 Scaling UP! Your Testing: Answering Listener Questions About Water Testing
    Apr 26 2024
    “I have never regretted having too much data when collecting a sample.” - Trace Blackmore In this insightful episode of Scaling UP! H2O, join your host Trace Blackmore as he helps water professionals scale up their water testing knowledge, addressing listener questions and providing invaluable expertise for water treatment professionals. Water testing stands as a cornerstone of effective water treatment, and Trace serves as your guide through this vital terrain. With a wealth of expertise, he addresses listener questions, offering invaluable insights to elevate the practices of water treatment professionals. Trace's guidance spans essential topics, from analyzing water samples to deciphering past data and ensuring the precision of collected samples. His pragmatic approach unveils indispensable tips for securing quality samples, choosing suitable tests for labs, and mastering sample preparation techniques. Listeners will find clarity on concepts such as grab and composite samples, quantitative versus qualitative analysis, and the pivotal role of lab procedures in securing accurate results. Trace's exploration extends to the comparison between tests conducted with test kits versus labs, alongside illuminating insights into specialized tests like Legionella testing and titration manipulation. Through engaging dialogue and expert advice, Trace underscores the significance of meticulous data collection and adherence to lab protocols. This episode serves as a catalyst for water professionals, empowering them to refine their testing methodologies and optimize water treatment strategies. Join Trace Blackmore on this enlightening expedition into the realm of water testing, where every lesson learned enhances practical expertise, and every insight gained fuels professional growth. Tune in to Scaling UP! H2O, and let's scale up our knowledge together. Timestamps 01:00 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals 08:00 - Trace Blackmore answers listener questions about Testing on this informative Pinks and Blues episode 40:00 - Drop by Drop With James McDonald Quotes “It's not just collecting samples, it’s about collecting data around those samples. I always take a picture of what I’m taking the scale off of and what is around it. I reference the photos so that when I get the report back, I can do more analysis.” - Trace Blackmore “I have never regretted having too much data when collecting a sample.” - Trace Blackmore “Collect all the data that you can, when you can.” - Trace Blackmore “Learn what your lab needs from you before sending them your samples, and follow your lab’s procedures. The procedures are there to help you.” - Trace Blackmore Connect with Scaling UP! H2O Email Producer: corrine@blackmore-enterprises.com Submit a show idea: Submit a Show Idea LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/traceblackmore/ YouTube: @ScalingUpH2O Links Mentioned Global 6K for Water 244 The One About Water Treaters For Clean Water (with Steve Spear) 294 The One About Getting Involved so the Profession Can Grow (with John A. Mullen) 348 Credentials and Codes: Plumbing Strategies Against Legionella (with Christoph Lohr) Blackmore Enterprises, Inc. Testing Services Scaling UP! H2O’s Legionella Resources Page The Rising Tide Mastermind Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses Submit a Show Idea AWT (Association of Water Technologies) Drop By Drop with James In today’s segment, I have another challenge for you. Today’s challenge is…draw a process flow diagram for your water systems. Having a good process flow diagram will help both you and your customer. The exercise may correct some assumptions you have or open your eyes to challenges you never knew existed. Be sure to include chemical feed points, water meters, blowdown lines, valves, waste streams, pretreatment equipment, pretreatment equipment waste streams, boilers, cooling towers, chillers, closed loops, dead legs, pressure and temperature gauge locations, pH probes, controllers, heat exchangers, makeup lines, outfalls, and whatever else you may run across. Feel free to make notes about frequency of equipment rotation, flow rates, temperatures, pressures, etc. Lastly, hand-drawn diagrams can be just fine because ANY process flow diagram has got to be better than NO process flow diagram, right? No need to get fancy if that will just slow you down and prevent you from making process flow diagrams in the first place. 2024 Events for Water Professionals Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we’ve listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE or using the dropdown menu.
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    44 mins
  • 360 Unlocking Profitable Sustainability: Winning RFPs and Making a Positive Impact

    360 Unlocking Profitable Sustainability: Winning RFPs and Making a Positive Impact
    Apr 19 2024
    Ready to uncover how to win RFPs, boost profits, and make a tangible positive impact – all while championing sustainability in your industry? Discover how to demystify sustainability and align your company's practices with environmental, social, and economic goals in the latest episode of Scaling UP! H2O. Host Trace Blackmore sits down with Andy Reimink, CEO of HOH Water Technology, Inc., to explore practical strategies for water professionals to embrace sustainability. Learn how small changes in energy efficiency, understanding sustainability scopes, and having sustainability data on hand can give your company a competitive edge in RFPs. Discover the economic benefits of environmental stewardship, including tax advantages and improved ROI. With insights from Andy's presentation at the AWT convention, uncover actionable tips for retaining younger employees by showcasing your company's positive impact on the world. Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to the industry, this episode offers valuable tools to enhance your company's sustainability outlook and drive long-term success. Join the conversation and discover how sustainability isn't just a buzzword—it's a pathway to a more resilient and prosperous future for your company and the planet. Tune in now to start making a difference! Timestamps 01:00 - Earth Day 2024 and Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals 9:00 - Interview with Andy Reimink, Chief Executive Officer at HOH Water Technology 01:03:45 - Drop by Drop With James McDonald Quotes “Our clients, whether we know it or not, care about our sustainability because it affects their bottomline or reputation.” - Andy Reimink “Publicly traded companies have RFPs (Request for Proposal), but it’s going to become commonplace for smaller water treatment companies. I expect it to grow in intensity.” - Andy Reimink “Data centers have a lot of pressure to be as sustainable as possible.” - Andy Reimink Connect with Andy Reimink Phone: 616.901.9769 Email: areimink@hohwatertechnology.com Website: hohwatertechnology.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/andy-reimink-a7711711/ linkedin.com/company/h-o-h-water-technology-inc-/ Links Mentioned EarthDay.org What are Scopes 1, 2 and 3 of Carbon Emissions? LEED Exam Preparation and Continuing Education Sense Energy Monitoring System TED TALK: (how to wash and dry your hands) How to use one paper towel | Joe Smith 122 The One with Reid Hutchison 123 The Other One with Reid Hutchison 127 The One With Tom Hutchison 236 The One Where We Talk About Waters Treaters Changing The World 287 The One About How To Create Aligned Employee Engagement 358 Safety First: Practical Tips, Big Results in Water Treatment The Rising Tide Mastermind Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses AWT (Association of Water Technologies) Books Mentioned Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey The Dream Manager: Achieve Results Beyond Your Dreams by Helping Your Employees Fulfill Theirs by Matthew Kelly The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness by Morgan Housel Drop By Drop with James In today’s episode, we’re asking ourself, “What If?” What if the acid feed stops working on a cooling tower? What happens if suddenly there is no acid being fed to a cooling tower on an acid-control program? Does something happen immediately? Does something happen gradually? Where within the system could this something happen? How long could this lack of acid feed occur before anyone would find out? How could you determine remotely that the acid feed had stopped working? What alarms could be setup? Once the problem has been determined, should the acid feed be turned back on immediately? Could turning the acid feed back on immediately cause any problems within the system? What should be communicated to the end user about this occurrence? What could be done to prevent it from happening again? Should blowdown be adjusted during the response to the lack of acid feed? How might the other water treatment chemicals be impacted due to the lack of acid? A cooling tower’s water treatment program is an expertly-balanced chemistry. If one part is negatively impacted, it may very well impact the other parts of the chemistry as well. There’s a lot to think about when just one part goes wrong. Knowing the root cause will help prevent you from chasing your tail when trying to get the program back under control. 2024 Events for Water Professionals Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we’ve listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE or using the dropdown menu.
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • 359 Visualizing Success: The Power of Creativity and Problem-Solving in Water Treatment

    359 Visualizing Success: The Power of Creativity and Problem-Solving in Water Treatment
    Apr 12 2024
    Visualization helps water professionals better understand equipment, processes, and problem-solving techniques Often, as water professionals, we breeze past the intricate inner workings of the equipment we handle, missing out on valuable insights that could enhance our understanding and effectiveness. But what if we took a moment to visualize what's happening inside that cooling tower? Through the simple act of visualization, we can unlock a whole new perspective on the systems we work with, gaining profound insights into their operation. Step into the fascinating world of industrial water treatment with host Trace Blackmore and special lab partner, James McDonald as they embark on a remarkable journey through the heart of a cooling tower. Shrinking down into water molecules, they vividly visualize the processes at play, offering a captivating glimpse into the complex world of water treatment. James McDonald, Director of Technology & Marketing at Chem-Aqua, founder of Industrial Water Week, and weekly contributor to the Scaling UP! H2O podcast, shares his profound insights into the importance of creativity and visualization in engineering. By harnessing these tools, water professionals can deepen their understanding, sharpen their problem-solving skills, and foster better communication within the industry. Join us for this enlightening discussion and discover how visualization techniques can revolutionize your approach to industrial water treatment. Let's unlock the full potential of our creativity and imagination, together shaping a brighter future for water professionals everywhere. Timestamps 01:00 - Trace Blackmore shares fun facts about the IRS during this tax return season 05:30 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals 13:30 - Interview with James McDonald, CWT, about the importance of visualizing systems 33:09 - Shrinking down and going inside a cooling tower 01:06:00 - Drop by Drop With James McDonald 01:08:00 - The power of visualization Quotes “I like doing visual exercises because it teaches me the gaps in my knowledge so I can learn about those ideas.” - James McDonald "It serves as an excellent learning tool, offering a dynamic approach to problem-solving by providing a visual representation of the situation." - James McDonald Connect with Scaling UP! H2O Email Producer: corrine@blackmore-enterprises.com Submit a show idea: Submit a Show Idea LinkedIn: in/traceblackmore/ YouTube: @ScalingUpH2O Connect with James McDonald Website: www.chemaqua.com Industrial Water Week: www.industrialwaterscience.com Read James’ Industrial Water Week Jokes and Comics at www.industrialwaterscience.com/fun LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/james-mcdonald-pe www.linkedin.com/company/chem-aqua Read or Download James McDonald’s Press Release HERE Links Mentioned How Cooling Towers Operate Water Softener Regeneration Process Understanding Cycles of Concentration Global 6K for water Episode 21 The One with James McDonald Episode 49 The One with James McDonald, Again Episode 113 Pinks and Blues (with James McDonald) Episode 290 The One About Making Time For What Matters Most (with James McDonald) Episode 291 The One About Nitrite (with James McDonald) Episode 31 The One with Mark Lewis Episode 34 The Other One With Mark Lewis, CWT Episode 112 The One Where Trace Is Interviewed By Mark Lewis Industrial Water Week Resources Water Cake Recipe Episode 161 Trace shared a story about the koi fish in the cooling tower Sharknado Series Die Hard Series Criminal Minds The Rising Tide Mastermind AWT (Association of Water Technologies) Drop By Drop with James Today we’re thinking about safety. Working around steam, hot water, high pressures, moving parts, confined spaces, hazardous chemicals, pathogenic organisms, extreme environments, deep water, and even people, there are hundreds of ways we could get hurt or worse every single day. Of course, there are guidelines, regulations, laws, safety programs, engineering controls, training, and so forth to help keep us safe, but the ultimate thing in charge of our safety day to day is ourselves. If we don’t follow the rules, learn from the trainings, are unaware of our surroundings, and/or circumvent engineering controls, we are much more likely to get hurt. So be both smart and aware when you are performing your industrial water treatment duties. You’re probably NOT the only one relying upon you returning home safely. A personal example of when I encountered an unsafe condition is from when I was brand new in industrial water treatment and was being trained on boiler inspections. My manager and I were just about to enter the mud drum of a watertube boiler when steam started coming out of the manhole. My manager and the plant manager both looked at each other and were a little white in the face. An operator had blowndown one of the nearby boilers, and steam had backed up into the one we were literally just about to ...
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    1 hr and 18 mins
  • 358 Safety First: Practical Tips, Big Results in Water Treatment

    358 Safety First: Practical Tips, Big Results in Water Treatment
    Apr 5 2024
    Did you know that integrating safety practices into your organization's culture can lead to significant improvements in employee engagement and overall performance? Step into the world of safety excellence alongside two industry leaders, Michael Highum and Reid Hutchison, in this enriching episode of the Scaling UP! H2O Podcast. As seasoned experts in their respective fields, Michael and Reid bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, making this conversation a must-listen for anyone seeking to enhance their understanding of safety practices in the water treatment industry. With over two decades of experience in insurance, Michael Highum is no stranger to the intricacies of risk management. As a partner at McGowan Insurance Group, he has played a pivotal role in providing businesses with tailored insurance solutions and strategic risk management advice. His insights into the importance of leading by example and fostering a culture of safety within organizations are invaluable. Reid Hutchison, the COO of HOH Water Technology, Inc., carries on a proud family legacy in the water treatment sector. With a lineage that spans three generations, Reid brings a deep understanding of the industry's nuances and challenges. His emphasis on proactive safety measures, team engagement, and the integration of safety practices into organizational culture resonates throughout the episode. In this educational and uplifting discussion, Michael and Reid share practical tips, real-life anecdotes, and actionable strategies for enhancing safety practices in water treatment facilities. From the significance of starting small and being proactive to the crucial role of continual improvement, listeners will gain valuable insights into building a robust safety culture that safeguards businesses and empowers teams. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a newcomer to the industry, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration to help you scale up your safety game. Join Michael Highum and Reid Hutchison on this enlightening journey towards safety excellence and discover how you can create a safer, more resilient future for your organization. Tune in now to Scaling UP! H2O Podcast and embark on your path to safety success with insights from two industry expert guides! Timestamps 00:01 - Trace Blackmore shares what it means to be a CWT and where to find FREE Industrial Water Week and Legionella Resources 04:00- Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals 08:00 - Introducing returning guests Michael Highum and Reid Hutchison 14:40 - Interview with Michael Highum and Reid Hutchison on the Water Treater’s Blindspot, Safety 59:00 - Drop by Drop With James McDonald Quotes “Safety isn’t compliance, an afterthought, or a box you check, you need to find ways to make it relevant to the team to get the attention and engagement it deserves.” - Reid Hutchison “If you're excited about growing your business, begin to put some thought into how you're going to grow the culture around safety in your company. As you grow and scale whatever vulnerabilities, weaknesses, or issues grow as well.” - Reid Hutchison “Talk about the WHY - it’s about truly developing a team where you care about each other. Employees watch leadership and when they see leaders take initiative on wanting to protect the team, it shows what the leadership cares about - safety. Safely for each and every person and ensuring they go home safely as possible.” - Michael Highum “Safety. It takes time and effort, but you’ve got to start somewhere. The need is not going away. There's no better time than today to start the safety process. It’s not just employee safety, it's customer site issues, employee injury, vehicles - it's up to leadership to enable and empower people.” - Michael Highum “Lead by example. No matter where you are in the organization, you are responsible and accountable to each other.” - Michael Highum Connect with Michael Highum Phone: 317.490.2322 Email: michaelh@mcgowaninsgrp.com Website: www.mcgowaninsgrp.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhighum www.linkedin.com/company/mcgowan-insurance-group Connect with Reid Hutchison Phone: 847.702.1708 Email: rhutchison@hohwatertechnology.com Website: hohwatertechnology.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/reid-h-3a329431 www.linkedin.com/company/h-o-h-water-technology-inc- Links Mentioned CWT Prep Course Industrial Water Week Resources Legionella Resources Page 025 The One On Insurance with Mike 107 Day 2 Of Industrial Water Week (Boilers) with Reid 107 Day 5 Of Industrial Water Week (Careers) with Mike 122 The One with Reid Hutchison 123 The Other One with Reid Hutchison 236 The One Where We Talk About Waters Treaters Changing The World with Reid 287 The One About How To Create Aligned Employee Engagement with Reid McGowan - Advisory & Compliance Services McGowan - Risk Solutions How Alcoa quintupled their revenue...
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • 357 Essential Leadership Skills for Water Professionals: A Guide by Dr. Andrew Temte

    357 Essential Leadership Skills for Water Professionals: A Guide by Dr. Andrew Temte
    Mar 29 2024
    How does a high school dropout go on to earn a Ph.D. from the University Of Iowa and become the host of one of Apple Podcast’s Top 15 shows on Management? Dr. Andrew Temte's mission is to Teach, Coach, Mentor, and Inspire, and today, the Scaling UP! H2O podcast is honored to feature him. In this transformative interview, Andrew discusses the foundational elements of building company culture, emphasizing that it starts with leadership. He shares valuable insights on why companies should prioritize defining their purpose before diving into marketing strategies. Additionally, Andrew explores the concept of leadership as stewardship and offers guidance on identifying core values while ensuring that everyone's voice is heard and valued. Discover the Value of People in Business: Emphasizing the importance of supporting and empowering employees, the conversation delves into how people are the most valuable asset in any organization. The need for leaders to embrace diversity of thought and opinion to create a culture where every voice is valued is highlighted. Explore Leadership Mindset: The transition from directive to non-directive leadership styles is discussed, emphasizing the importance of fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are welcomed and respected. Embrace a Stewardship Mindset: Advocating for adopting a stewardship mindset as a leader, the discussion focuses on the long-term success of both the business and its people, rather than personal power or ego. Learn about Compassionate Leadership: The concept of compassionate leadership is explored, which involves empathizing with employees and taking proactive steps to address their needs and concerns. Key Takeaway: Discover the importance of purpose and adopting a stewardship mindset, especially in cross-generational leadership, as highlighted in this insightful conversation. Everyone knows what it’s like to work for a horrible boss, but what could your life look like if you had a great boss - one who viewed you as the greatest asset in the company, ensured everyone's voice was heard, and lived out the company values in their daily lives. A leader with empathy is what every team wants. If you're eager to enhance your leadership skills and empower yourself and your team in the water industry, join us to uncover essential insights on making your team flourish, regardless of the challenges you may face. Timestamps 01:00 - Trace Blackmore welcomes you to the second quarter of 2024, a good time to review your goals and make a plan for the next quarter 07:00 - The Hang is coming up April 11, 2024 and Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals 12:30 - Interview with Dr. Andrew Temte 48:00 - Lightning round questions 59:00 - Drop by Drop With James McDonald Quotes “Values and behaviors go together like peanut butter and jelly. Values are the nouns that you are creating for the overall structure of what you want your business to be. Behaviors are the verbs, they are the actions, they are the ‘how’ we should show up each day in the business. Don’t shy away from that work, engage in that work, and pay it the attention that it's due.” - Dr. Andrew Temte “Far too many leaders leave the business world and take all of their accumulated knowledge with them; maybe it gets disseminated to a small group of folks, maybe they do a little teaching and coaching on the side. I wanted to do something much bigger than that. I wanted to reach a much larger potential audience.” - Dr. Andrew Temte “Go to the Gemba - where the work happens and how teams interact. Listen to the people who interact with your customers. Set your ego aside and go to where the work happens, and listen to where the work is going on.” - Dr. Andrew Temte “As a leader, you need to create clarity. Clarity for everybody involved: your customers, your vendors, your people, your investors, your stakeholders.” - Dr. Andrew Temte “As a compassionate leader, you need to hear the successes and the pain points across the organization.” - Dr. Andrew Temte “Compassionate leadership is Empathy + Willingness and the ability to do something about it. You are putting yourself into the shoes of your people, and you are pledging to make their work better.” - Dr. Andrew Temte Connect with Andrew Temte Phone: 608.385.9050 Email: andy@skillsowl.com Website: www.andrewtemte.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/atemte Links Mentioned Skills Owl Add a link to Andy’s podcast show, The Balancing Act Podcast Listen to Episode 109 of The Balancing Act Podcast with Trace Blackmore HERE Podify Episode 4 with Charlie Cichetti The Rising Tide Mastermind Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses Submit a Show Idea AWT (Association of Water Technologies) Books Mentioned The Balanced Business: Building Organizational Trust and Accountability through Smooth Workflows by Andrew Temte Balancing Act: Teach Coach Mentor Inspire by Andrew Temte The 12 Week Year:...
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • 356 Unlocking the Future: Collaborative Water Management

    356 Unlocking the Future: Collaborative Water Management
    Mar 22 2024
    Collaborate strategically, embrace AI innovations, and champion data access, and scale up your knowledge to conquer industry challenges. - Dragan Savić FREng On this episode of Scaling UP! H2O, we're diving into the future of water management with our distinguished guest, Dragan Savić FREng, the CEO of and Professor of Hydroinformatics at the KWR Water Research Institute. With over 30 years of experience in numerical optimization and AI tools, Dragan Savić has been a driving force in reshaping the water sector. As an engineer and the leader of KWR, he's at the forefront of collaborative efforts, bringing together computer scientists, water technologists, and PhD students to tackle real-world water challenges. What you’ll learn: Collaborative Mastery: In this episode, learn the first secret of successful water professionals – collaboration. Dragan Savić shares how collaborating with diverse experts, including computer scientists and environmentalists, can unleash your collaborative superpower. Be the hero who bridges gaps and solves water industry challenges through the strength of working on challenging problems together. AI Innovations: Explore how numerical optimization and AI tools like evolutionary computing and genetic algorithms can be your allies in designing resilient water systems for the future. As a Professor of Hydroinformatics, Dragan unveils his in-depth knowledge of AI tools, including numerical optimization, evolutionary computing, and genetic algorithms. Learn how these technologies have been harnessed to solve real-world challenges, offering practical insights for professionals navigating the complexities of water infrastructure. Championing Data Access: Having access to all the data, not part of it, leads to better decisions. It’s time to advance data democratization, and remove data silos that so frequently exist within water utilities. Gain insights into the digital transformation of data, empowering professionals to access and utilize information efficiently. The future of water is data platforms to house all the data to make things better and avoid duplication which decreases costs and gives everyone involved with the water the ability to analyze and utilize the data. Tune in to Scaling UP! H2O and embark on a transformative adventure with Dragan Savić. Remember, water heroes collaborate strategically, embrace AI innovations, and champion data access and scale up your knowledge to conquer industry challenges. Timestamps 01:00 - Trace Blackmore invites you to submit a show idea 03:45 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals 14:30 - Drop by Drop With James McDonald 19:00 - Interview with Dragan Savić FREng Quotes “Data needs to be accessible and understandable to everyone in the same company. With data platforms to host, the data you avoid duplication, doing the same work or collecting the same data, so you get cost efficiency and also the ability to analyze and utilize more of that data.” - Dragan Savić “The water industry is conscious about cyber security. Water engineers are looking at what could go wrong.” - Dragan Savić “We have to work with younger generations because those are the ones that will grow through the ranks and become the next experts, professors, or people who are implementing the new scheme.” Dragan Savić Connect with Dragan Savić Email: directiesecretariaatkwr@kwrwater.nl Website: www.kwrwater.nl/en/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dragansavic/ www.linkedin.com/company/kwr-water-research-institute/ Read or Download Dragan Savić FREng’s Press Release HERE Links Mentioned KWI’s “Stop It” program Gwinnett County Georgia, The Environmental and Heritage Center NAP Visitorcentre in Amsterdam, The Netherlands The Rising Tide Mastermind Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses Submit a Show Idea AWT (Association of Water Technologies) Drop By Drop with James In this week’s episode, I offer up another challenge to you. This week’s challenge is…to send handwritten notes to those who have helped you. I mean truly handwritten notes. In this digital world we live in with emails, voicemails, text messages, social media posts, and so forth, actually taking the time and effort to handwrite a sincere note to someone takes on a lot of meaning. I’m a note writer. I’ve handwritten notes to my employees telling them how much I appreciate them. I’ve handwritten notes to mentors and those who have influenced my professional and personal development over the years. I’ve handwritten notes to operators for doing a good job or taking the extra time to help me. I’ve handwritten notes of condolences to those who have lost loved ones and congratulations to those who have brought new life into the world. I’ve handwritten notes on Christmas cards so it’s more than just a pretty card with a signature. I once had a customer pull me into his office and gesture at all the tins and boxes of cookies and...
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    50 mins