On today's episode of The Edge of Excellence, Matt is joined by Jeff Gunhus, a seasoned entrepreneur, to discuss the concept of excellence and business leadership. Jeff defines excellence as a deliberate choice to pursue the best version of oneself across all life's endeavors, stressing the importance of being both content and driven. Throughout their conversation, Jeff shares insights from his journey of building a successful business empire, emphasizing the pivotal role of making strategic choices, even when they entail personal sacrifices, such as missing out on leisure activities to focus on career growth.

The discussion then pivots to Jeff's entrepreneurial experiences, where he elaborates on transitioning his business model in response to unforeseen challenges, such as regulatory changes and market dynamics. This shift notably involved downsizing from $6 million to $1.6 million in revenue, which set the stage for a remarkable recovery and growth trajectory, demonstrating resilience and adaptability. Jeff highlights the critical role of team building and maintaining a brand that genuinely resonates with both employees and customers, fostering a culture of high performance and mutual respect.

Towards the end of the episode, Jeff and Matt explore the importance of aligning personal values with professional endeavors, which ensures sustained passion and commitment. Jeff shares personal anecdotes, including his family's involvement in community service, illustrating how personal values deeply influence professional actions and company culture. The episode concludes with Jeff reflecting on the sacrifices made during his career, reinforcing that short-term trade-offs can lead to long-term rewards, encapsulating the podcast's theme of striving towards excellence through thoughtful decision-making and persistent effort.

Join Matt and Jeff for this fascinating episode.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show:

• How excellence is not about being the best in the field but striving to be the best version of oneself.
• How to transition from small-scale successes to major brand building, and the importance of vision in scaling businesses effectively.
• How effective partnerships are crucial and how mutual understanding and shared goals strengthen business relationships.
• Jeff's experiences of balancing career ambitions with personal life, providing a blueprint for managing professional growth without compromising personal relationships.
• The long-term impacts of early career choices and the importance of international exposure and adapting to various cultural environments.
• The resilience businesses require to adapt to external changes, like regulatory shifts, and how these can be opportunities for significant growth.
• How a company's values and culture contribute to its success, and how to integrate personal values into your business practices for holistic success.
• Insights into taking full ownership of one’s actions and decisions in business, promoting a leadership style that fosters accountability and growth.
• The significance of finding joy in one’s professional journey, regardless of the challenges faced, which can lead to a more fulfilling career and life.
• And so much more...

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On today's episode of The Edge of Excellence, Matt is joined by guest Kory Finley, as they focus on Kory's journey to personal and professional excellence. The discussion opens with Kory sharing his definition of excellence as the consistent effort to perform at one's best every day, regardless of the circumstances. Kory narrates his life story, from being a multi-sport athlete in high school to entering the challenging world of business and cattle ranching. He emphasizes the importance of taking personal responsibility and learning from setbacks to propel oneself towards success.

During the discussion, Kory discusses his time in college and his early career, particularly his involvement with College Works, where he excelled as a freshman intern. His success was partly due to his competitive nature and the desire to be recognized as the best. Kory reflects on the moments that shaped his career, including significant sales achievements and the strategic decisions he made, like turning down financial support from his parents to foster independence and avoid any potential for guilt-driven influence.

Kory's philosophy revolves around ownership and responsibility, believing that these are critical to achieving excellence. He shares how confronting and overcoming challenges, like dealing with customer complaints and leading teams, were invaluable learning experiences. Throughout the episode, Kory and Matt highlight the importance of making deliberate choices about how to spend one's time and the value of investing in meaningful activities and relationships that promote personal growth and success.

Join Matt and Kory for this fascinating episode.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show:

• Kory's definition of excellence as the persistent effort to perform at your best daily, regardless of external conditions.
• The importance of taking ownership of problems and failures as a key strategy for personal and professional growth.
• How early job experiences, such as working in concrete construction and cattle ranching, shaped Kory’s work ethic and success.
• Why Kory attributes his success to a competitive disposition, striving to be the best in his endeavors.
• His experience of setting a high sales record as a goal, illustrating the power of high aspirations.
• Turning setbacks into learning opportunities, and how to convert failures into stepping stones toward success.
• The importance of financial independence from family to avoid guilt-driven decisions.
• The importance of investing time wisely and making choices that align with long-term goals.
• And so much more...

On today's episode of The Edge of Excellence, Matt is joined by Sean Phelps, as they explore the concept of entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of gaining practical experiences outside traditional educational pathways. Sean reflects on his journey, highlighting his involvement with College Works, where he developed essential business skills by managing teams and projects while still in college. He shares insights about the value of real-world applications of business concepts, advising aspiring entrepreneurs to focus on technical skills in college and seek out entrepreneurial experiences in the broader world, using resources like the Kauffman Foundation and Y Combinator.

During the discussion, Sean elaborates on his career trajectory, including the tough decisions he faced when offered a full-time position that conflicted with his existing commitments. He shares a critical turning point where he chose to prioritize his role at College Works, attributing his professional skills and opportunities to the experiences he gained there. This choice led to him eventually being fired from the FinTech company he was involved with, underscoring the challenges and sacrifices inherent in balancing multiple career paths and the unpredictable nature of startup environments.

Matt and Sean also explore the personal aspects of entrepreneurship, discussing the integration of work, family, and personal life. Sean credits his entrepreneurial flexibility with allowing him to commit time to family and personal interests, advocating for a balanced life where work does not overshadow other responsibilities. They conclude by stressing the importance of building a solid reputation through hard work and reliability, which in turn fosters professional relationships and opens up opportunities for future ventures and collaborations.

Join Matt and Sean for this fascinating episode.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show:

• How hands-on experience in the field can surpass traditional education paths for aspiring entrepreneurs.
• Why challenging economic times, such as the 2008 financial crisis, can serve as the best periods to hone entrepreneurial skills and lead businesses.
• How adapting to circumstances by working smarter and harder can set a foundation for success.
• Strategies for managing a successful career while maintaining strong family ties and personal wellbeing.
• How entrepreneurship offers the flexibility to prioritize life events without sacrificing professional growth.
• How past failures and humility in leadership can enhance team performance and drive better results.
• The importance of empowering team members by recognizing their potential to surpass your achievements.
• How strategic time investment in work, relationships, and hobbies can lead to a more fulfilled and balanced life.
• The concept of 'investing time' vs. 'spending time,' and how this perspective can lead to more effective personal and professional life management.
• And so much more...