Disruptive Successor Podcast

Jonathan Goldhill

The Disruptive Successor Show is a podcast for next-generation leaders in family businesses and entrepreneurs who want to disrupt the status quo to grow their business and take it to the next level. We all know that what got us here isn’t going to get us there. If you are taking control over your family’s business or trying to get your business to the next level, you will need inspiration, advice and resources to help you create a massive impact. Listeners of my show include not only the millennial or Gen Z but also the Baby Boomer and Gen Y. My listeners tend to be involved in these industries: business services, construction, design-build-maintain landscape contracting, food manufacturing, property management, real estate, and technology. And are interested in issues like business coaching, branding, communication, difficult conversations, disruption, employee ownership, exit planning, financial management, leadership, innovation, intergenerational transfer, marketing, multi-generational family businesses, business operations, process documentation, security, selling, storytelling, succession, visioning, wealth management, My guests are entrepreneurs, family business advisors, multi-generational and Gen 2 family business leaders, heads of university family business programs, consultants, coaches and firms that serve those who are growth businesses. Clients of my show typically are running businesses with 10 to 200 employees and $1M to $20M in revenues. Their concerns include: scaling up, exit planning, succession, leadership development, disruption, business planning, finances, growth planning, transferring generational wealth, transferring control, ownership issues, and more. The benefits listeners receive are introductions to experts and advisors around the issues of growing and exiting a business, whether it’s a family business or entrepreneurial venture. They get a feel for the challenges other business owners and leaders face and how they overcame them. They will hear stories from people and how they came to do their work and why. My shows feature handpicked guests who engage with me in casual conversations lasting between 30 to 40 minutes. You can expect to be entertained, engaged and may even get takeaways like business tools or ideas for implementation in your business. I’ve led entrepreneurial adventures in art, clothing, a holistic health lifestyle magazine and trade show, shoe manufacturing. I’ve also led several non-profit organizations. I earned an MBA from the University of Southern California in Entrepreneurship. I’ve been advising, coaching and consulting family-owned, family-run and entrepreneur-led businesses since 1989. My love for entrepreneurship follows the closure of my family’s sizeable multi-generational clothing manufacturing company after eight decades of operation because there were no successors. After uncovering the code to scale up a family-run business - a playbook and a disruptive successor - I wrote a book called Disruptive Successor: A Guide To Driving Growth in Your Family Business. My podcast is my effort to bring interested people into the conversation to benefit disruptive successors.

  1. Episode 200 - Embracing Productive Friction for Generational Wealth with Jeffrey Condren

    FEB 17

    Episode 200 - Embracing Productive Friction for Generational Wealth with Jeffrey Condren

    Jeffrey Condren is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Senior Vice President and Wealth Advisor at Mesirow Wealth Management in Highland Park, Illinois. With over two decades of experience in the financial industry, Jeff specializes in guiding business owners through complex transitions—from business exits to legacy planning. He works primarily with entrepreneurs and multi-generational family businesses, particularly in manufacturing and healthcare sectors throughout the Midwest. His expertise includes tax-efficient wealth strategies, estate structuring, values-based investing, and helping families navigate the challenging conversations around succession planning. Jeff is known for his practical approach to transforming business liquidity into lasting family legacies while addressing the often-overlooked emotional and relational dynamics that can make or break generational wealth transfer. SHOW SUMMARY In this episode, Jonathan Goldhill is joined by Jeffrey Condren, a certified financial planner with extensive experience in wealth management and advising multi-generational families. They explore why secrecy often leads to entitlement, the pitfalls of striving for fairness over equality, and the critical need for early and transparent conversations about values, expectations, and the realities of running a family business. They emphasize that successful generational transitions require exposing heirs to responsibility and decision-making early on. The episode also covers the nuances of assigning business roles to family members, handling business valuations realistically, and the importance of external mediation to navigate complex family dynamics. KEY TAKEAWAYS Successful families surface conflict early and structure it, rather than avoiding itFair and equal are not the same thing in family business transitionsExposing the next generation to business realities early prevents friction laterFirst-generation business owners struggle most with letting go of controlBusiness valuations should be updated every 1-2 years, not left for 7+ yearsDepression-era children often feel they never have "enough" money, regardless of actual wealthSuccession planning takes years, not months - there's no light switch solutionThe earlier difficult conversations happen, the smoother the transitionQUOTES "Successful families do not eliminate conflict. They surface it early, they structure it and use it to clarify values and expectations.""Fair versus equal. It is very different for a lot of people, and it's a very hard conversation to have, and there's no right or wrong answer.""Getting a business owner to think about their future self not involving the business... takes time. It's not a one hour conversation.""Tom Brady, arguably one of the greatest quarterbacks... had a quarterback coach. So when you stop and think about that, he probably doesn't need one, but there's still someone pointing out techniques that maybe he's not seeing.""How long things actually take - there's not a light switch solution to anything in life. The sooner they're willing to have the conversation, the smoother it is.""The idea of them not being involved in the business is so hard for them to comprehend that they don't know where to start and they'd rather ignore it."Connect and learn more about Jeffrey Condren.https://www.linkedin.com/in/condren/ If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe, review, and share with a friend who would benefit from the message. If you’re interested in picking up a copy of Jonathan Goldhill’s book, Disruptive Successor, go to the website at www.DisruptiveSuccessor.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    44 min
  2. Episode 199 - 11 Uncomfortable Truths Every Family Business Must Face with Richard Grove of Wall Control

    12/16/2025

    Episode 199 - 11 Uncomfortable Truths Every Family Business Must Face with Richard Grove of Wall Control

    Richard Grove is the third-generation leader behind Wall Control, a renowned American manufacturer specializing in wall organization systems. With a background in mechanical engineering and experience at the Department of Defense, Richard returned to his family business to help scale it from a small tool and die shop into a household name across e-commerce, retail, and television. He is also a consultant, helping other small businesses improve operations, build strategic partnerships, and strengthen their digital presence. Richard’s journey exemplifies the challenges and rewards of leading a multi-generational family business into the future. SHOW SUMMARY In this episode, Jonathan Goldhill welcomes back Richard Grove, the third-generation face behind Wall Control. Richard shares his journey of transforming a family tool and die shop into a leading brand in wall organization, traversing e-commerce, retail, and television. They delve into the uncomfortable truths that every family business must confront to survive and prosper, as highlighted in Goldhill's ebook, 'The Family Business Trap, 11 Uncomfortable Truths that Will Save Your Business and Your Relationships.' Through personal anecdotes, Richard talks about family dynamics, succession planning, role definition, and the importance of open communication and strategic governance in family-run enterprises. The episode provides invaluable insights and practical advice for navigating the complex terrain of family businesses. KEY TAKEAWAYS Open, honest communication is the foundation for healthy family businesses.Fake harmony can hide misalignment—address issues before they become problems.Clearly defined roles and responsibilities prevent confusion and crisis.Leadership in family business must be earned, not assigned by entitlement.Regular meetings and shared workspaces foster better collaboration and understanding.Succession planning and transparency are essential for long-term success.Every family and business is unique—adapt best practices to your situation.QUOTES “Just because no one’s fighting doesn’t mean you’re aligned. Fake harmony kills real progress.”“If you want to talk more, why don’t you be together more?”“Entitlement doesn’t make you a leader—you have to earn that.”“Don’t ruin your family for your business. You only get one family, but you can always start another business.”“Without structure, you’re running on assumptions, and assumptions implode under pressure.”“Communication is the single best practice that cuts through all these uncomfortable truths.”Connect and learn more about Richard Grove.https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-grove-wall-control/ If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe, review, and share with a friend who would benefit from the message. If you’re interested in picking up a copy of Jonathan Goldhill’s book, Disruptive Successor, go to the website at www.DisruptiveSuccessor.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    51 min
  3. Episode 198 - Scaling Globally with Family and Values — A Conversation with Pranav Dalal, Founder & CEO of Office Beacon

    11/18/2025

    Episode 198 - Scaling Globally with Family and Values — A Conversation with Pranav Dalal, Founder & CEO of Office Beacon

    Pranav Dalal is the visionary Founder and CEO of Office Beacon, a global outsourcing powerhouse with over 5,500 employees. Launching the business in 2000 after the dot-com crash, Pranav has expanded operations from India to the Philippines, Mexico, and South Africa, providing over 150 different services to clients worldwide. As a single father, he is actively building a multi-generational family business, with his children joining the ranks to learn the industry from the ground up. Pranav is also a forward-thinker who leverages unique partnerships with the NFL and SoFi Stadium to drive business growth. SHOW SUMMARY In this episode, host Jonathan Goldhill sits down with Pranav Dalal to discuss his 25-year journey of building a truly global enterprise. Pranav shares the origin story of shifting from the tech sector to B2B services and how he strategically scaled Office Beacon across multiple continents. We explore how he balances running a massive remote organization using systems like EOS and the "generational compact" he has established with his children. Pranav also offers fascinating insights into his unique sports marketing partnerships, his aggressive adoption of AI to disrupt his own business model, and the ancestral values that guide his leadership. KEY TAKEAWAYS The Generational Compact: Pranav built Office Beacon with the specific intent of creating a multi-generational legacy. His children joined the business not through nepotism, but by starting at entry-level positions to learn humility and hard work.Scaling with EOS: Managing 5,500 employees remotely requires discipline. Pranav utilizes the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) five levels deep to ensure core values and goals are cascaded effectively across global teams.Innovative Partnerships: Moving beyond traditional marketing, Office Beacon holds exclusive partnerships with SoFi Stadium and the NFL Alumni Association, using stadium suites for daily business networking rather than just game-day entertainment.Disrupt or Be Disrupted: Pranav views himself as the "Chief Disruption Officer." He is heavily investing in AI education and implementation for 2026, believing that if he doesn't disrupt his own business model, a competitor will.Trust But Verify: A core leadership lesson Pranav instills in his children and team is the concept of "trust but verify"—maintaining faith in people while ensuring details and execution are validated to prevent costly mistakes.Ancestral DNA: Pranav reconnected with his heritage, discovering that his surname "Dalal" means "broker" in Persian/Hindi, which reinforced his belief that business and entrepreneurship are embedded in his family's DNA.QUOTES "My whole goal was to create a multi-generational family business.""If we're not disrupting ourselves, someone's going to disrupt you.""I realized that it was a very doable thing... that there are these family legacies out there in business that go back hundreds of years.""They fail, feel a sense of ownership even though I'm the owner... their mindset of being accountable is incredible.""I’m in the people business, and I should be the first one to say, 'Wow, I’m scared of AI,' but I’m embracing it a thousand percent."Connect and learn more about Pranav Dalal and Office Beacon: Pranav Dalal’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pranavdalal/Office Beacon Website: https://www.officebeacon.com/  Email for inquiries: sales@officebeacon.com If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe, review, and share with a friend who would benefit from the message. If you’re interested in picking up a copy of Jonathan Goldhill’s book, Disruptive Successor, go to the website at www.DisruptiveSuccessor.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    52 min
  4. Episode 197 - Disrupting the Portable Restroom Industry: Innovation, Leadership & Family Values with Grant & Erin Stahla

    09/24/2025

    Episode 197 - Disrupting the Portable Restroom Industry: Innovation, Leadership & Family Values with Grant & Erin Stahla

    Grant and Erin Stahla are the inspiring husband-and-wife co-founders of Stahla Services, a premium restroom and shower trailer rental company. Starting with a single trailer after college, they have disrupted a traditional industry by providing hospitality-level service and a product often described as a "hotel bathroom on wheels." Guided by their values and a passion for entrepreneurship, they've grown their family-run business across multiple states. The Stahlas are also the creators of Stahla Leads, an innovative online marketplace designed to help other vendors in the sanitation space grow their businesses by connecting them with qualified customers. SHOW SUMMARY In this episode, host Jonathan Goldhill chats with Grant and Erin Stahla about their incredible journey of transforming the portable sanitation industry. Grant shares the origin story of starting the business right out of college and how he and Erin joined forces to scale it with a commitment to quality and service. We explore how they innovated a commodity product into a premium experience, the systems they've used to scale effectively, and the genesis of their second company, Stahla Leads. Grant and Erin also offer an open and honest look at the dynamics of running a business as a married couple and how their faith serves as the foundational core for their leadership, culture, and life balance. KEY TAKEAWAYS Innovating a Commodity: The Stahlas elevated the standard porta-potty into a premium experience with amenities like flushing toilets, running hot water, A/C, heating, and Bluetooth sound systems, effectively creating a new market category.Values-Driven Leadership: Their faith is the "core of everything." They strive to run their business "like Jesus would," which informs everything from their company culture and customer service to maintaining perspective and life balance.The Dynamics of a Couple in Business: Erin shares that success as a married couple in business requires acknowledging the ups and downs, communicating openly, and finding a flexible balance that works for them, rather than enforcing rigid rules.From Internal Problem to New Venture: After spending over a million dollars on Google Ads and finding most leads were outside their service area, they created Stahla Leads—a marketplace to sell those leads to other vendors, turning a marketing challenge into a new revenue stream.Building to Sell, But Inspired to Hold: While they use the "build to sell" framework to ensure the business is systemized and valuable, their true inspiration comes from legacy companies like Chick-fil-A, focusing on long-term growth and value creation over decades.Scaling with Intention: The Stahla have intentionally scaled using systems like the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), software like HubSpot and Smartsheets, and a commitment to embedding their core values across all locations to maintain quality and culture.QUOTES "We really want to be that rising tide that lifts all ships within our industry.""We want to do this business like Jesus would. So we want to own it like Jesus would and just manage like Jesus would.""Anything that you do, there's going to be some low moments and some hard things that you're gonna have to talk through, whether that's like purely a coworker or a coworker who happens to be your spouse.""If we're gonna have a business, we wanna do it right and we wanna keep building it.""Such a basic thing. But also it, it's so different than the standard plastic porta-potty."Connect and learn more about Grant & Erin Stahla:Grant Stahla's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-stahla/Erin Stahla's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinstahla/ If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe, review, and share with a friend who would benefit from the message. If you’re interested in picking up a copy of Jonathan Goldhill’s book, Disruptive Successor, go to the website at www.DisruptiveSuccessor.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    43 min
  5. Episode 196 - Preserving a Legacy, Planting New Seeds: The Hubbard Peanut Story with Marshall Rabil

    07/15/2025

    Episode 196 - Preserving a Legacy, Planting New Seeds: The Hubbard Peanut Story with Marshall Rabil

    Marshall Rabil is the third-generation President and CEO of Hubbard Peanut Company, the country's oldest specialty peanut brand, famously known as "Hubs." Founded by his grandparents in 1954 in Sedley, Virginia, Hubs is a household name celebrated for its super extra-large Virginia peanuts. Before taking the helm, Marshall cultivated a global perspective, working in sustainable development and education in Japan and around the world. He later gained invaluable industry experience as a specialty food buyer at Whole Foods, inspired by the principles of Conscious Capitalism. In 2016, Marshall returned to his roots, bringing a vision to blend the company's rich tradition with modern innovation, community engagement, and long-term growth. SHOW SUMMARY In this episode, host Jonathan Goldhill sits down with Marshall Rabil to explore the journey of leading a 70-year-old family legacy into the future. Marshall shares how his experiences abroad, from Japanese villages to international development projects, shaped his desire to use the family business as a catalyst for positive change in his own rural Virginia community. We dive into the nuts and bolts of this transformation, from turning an old grocery store into a vibrant community hub to competing against private equity-backed giants. Marshall offers a candid look at the delicate balancing act of honoring his grandparents' legacy while implementing new technology, marketing strategies, and, most importantly, navigating the complex dynamics of family ownership and succession. KEY TAKEAWAYS Business as a Community Catalyst: Marshall is using the business as a force for good, transforming an old grocery store into "The Hubs Vine," a community event space, and forging deep partnerships with the local food bank through initiatives like the "Homegrown Harvest" festival. The Value of Outside Experience: The Rabil family mantra was to "go and work for someone else first." Marshall’s time in international education and at Whole Foods provided him with a unique perspective that has been crucial for innovating within the family business. Navigating the Private Equity Wave: Instead of selling to private equity firms that are acquiring competitors, the Rabil family chose to reinvest in their business. Hubs differentiates itself by focusing on its premium quality, its authentic story, and strategic partnerships with brands like Orvis. The Toughest Challenge is Family Alignment: Marshall reveals that the most critical and time-consuming challenge isn't operations or scaling, but getting the multi-generational family owners aligned on corporate governance, especially the buy-sell agreement. Modernizing a Legacy Brand: Marshall is spearheading the adoption of new technologies, from a sophisticated Shopify Plus website and data analytics tools to exploring automation on the production line, ensuring the brand remains relevant. Patience in a Legacy Business: Leading a 70-year-old company requires patience. Marshall emphasizes the need to take a step back, understand different family perspectives, and accept that meaningful change takes time. QUOTES "I was really starting to think how can business, um, be a catalyst for change in our community?" "I was always encouraged to go out and do something before you want to come back here. So that was always kind of our family mantra was, you need to go and work for someone else first." "I think our value has multiplied because of some of those efforts. But it required a lot of work." "Of the seven things that you mentioned, that [family alignment on corporate governance] is the one that is taking the most time and attention... because you have to get the family on board." "I have to remind myself too, you know, take a step back. You'll get there. I like things to happen a little quicker than they do sometimes." Connect and learn more about Marshall Rabil and Hubbard Peanut Company:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshall-rabil-83a24a15/Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hubbard-peanut-company-inc/ If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe, review, and share with a friend who would benefit from the message. If you’re interested in picking up a copy of Jonathan Goldhill’s book, Disruptive Successor, go to the website at www.DisruptiveSuccessor.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    54 min
  6. Episode 195 - Disrupting the Green Narrative: Energy Lessons from Ronald Stein

    07/01/2025

    Episode 195 - Disrupting the Green Narrative: Energy Lessons from Ronald Stein

    Ronald Stein is a professional engineer, energy literacy advocate, and the Pulitzer Prize-nominated co-author of Clean Energy Exploitations. With decades of experience designing and building refineries for major corporations like Bechtel and Fluor, Ron possesses a deep, nuanced understanding of the energy sector. Thirty years ago, he and his wife, June, founded PTS Advance, a staffing and workforce solutions firm specializing in complex industries like energy and life sciences. After successfully growing the company, they transitioned ownership to their two sons 15 years ago. Now, Ron dedicates his time to educating policymakers, business leaders, and the public, serving as a columnist for America Out Loud News and an advisor to the Heartland Institute on energy policy. SHOW SUMMARY In this eye-opening episode of the Disruptive Successor Podcast, host Jonathan Goldhill sits down with Ronald Stein to challenge everything you think you know about energy. Ron explains the dangerous lack of "energy literacy" plaguing our leaders and policies. He draws a critical distinction: renewables like wind and solar only generate electricity, whereas fossil fuels are the foundation for the petrochemicals that create over 6,000 essential products, from iPhones and medical devices to the very components of EVs and solar panels. The conversation delves into the successful generational transition of Ron's family business, PTS Advance, and unpacks the severe economic and national security risks of misguided energy policies, revealing the hidden truths behind the global push for a "green" transition. KEY TAKEAWAYS  Energy vs. Electricity: A Critical Misunderstanding: Ron clarifies that "energy" and "electricity" are not interchangeable. Wind and solar generate electricity, but they cannot create the physical products derived from the petrochemicals in fossil fuels that our modern world is built on.Everything is Made from Oil: Our materialistic society, including "green" technologies like EVs, wind turbines, and solar panels, is fundamentally dependent on the 6,000+ products derived from oil. Getting rid of oil means getting rid of the building blocks of modern life.A Family Business Success Story: Ron shares how he and his wife built PTS Advance from the ground up, successfully transitioned it to their sons, and strategically hired a non-family CEO, leading to massive growth and an eventual acquisition.The Perils of Poor Policy: California's push to eliminate in-state oil production has ironically made the state over 70% dependent on foreign oil imports, creating a significant national security risk and driving up costs for consumers.The Hidden Costs of EVs: Transitioning to electric vehicles eliminates the gas tax revenue that maintains roads, while the heavier weight of EVs causes more road damage, creating a future funding crisis.The Unethical Side of "Clean" Energy: Ron argues that mandating EVs financially incentivizes the exploitation of labor (including child labor) and environmental degradation in countries like China and in Africa, where the raw materials for batteries are mined.The Nuclear Resurgence: As a reliable, emissions-free, and continuous power source, nuclear energy is gaining worldwide momentum as a practical solution for our electricity needs, requiring far less land and materials than wind and solar.QUOTES  "Wind and solar only generates electricity. They make no powers, no insulation, no asphalt, et cetera, et cetera. Whereas oil, all the products we have today didn't exist 200 years ago.""If you get rid of oil, you get rid of electricity, you get rid of EVs. The EV is a hundred percent made with oil.""Instead of being 5% dependent on foreign imports for crude oil, we're now more than 70% dependent... And that is a national security risk for America.""My passion is to stimulate conversations about energy literacy because most of our policy makers are misunderstanding the word energy.""I think it's unethical and immoral to provide those financial incentives for those countries to continue to [exploit people and the environment].""There's a worldwide movement toward nuclear 'cause we want affordable, reliable, continuous electricity, also emissions free electricity and nuclear is providing that."Connect and learn more about Ronald Stein and his work:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldstein/Email: ronald.stein@energyliteracy.netBook: Clean Energy Exploitations on AmazonCompany: PTS Advance: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pts-advance/ If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe, review, and share with a friend who would benefit from the message. If you’re interested in picking up a copy of Jonathan Goldhill’s book, Disruptive Successor, go to the website at www.DisruptiveSuccessor.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    47 min
  7. Episode 194 - Bagels, Bloodlines, and Business: Western Bagel’s Legacy with Jeff Ustin

    06/19/2025

    Episode 194 - Bagels, Bloodlines, and Business: Western Bagel’s Legacy with Jeff Ustin

    Jeff Ustin is the Vice President of Western Bagel, the first bagel shop in Los Angeles. He helps carry on his great-grandfather’s 75-year legacy while leading the brand’s national and international expansion. Under his leadership, Western Bagel has become a West Coast staple, blending New York tradition with LA innovation. Carrying on a rich 75-year legacy, Jeff is the great-grandson of David Ustin, a union bagel baker from New York City who founded Western Bagel in 1947. Jeff grew up immersed in the business, learning every aspect from sweeping floors at 3 AM with his father, Steve, to managing retail stores. Under his leadership, Western Bagel continues to blend New York tradition with LA innovation, expanding its reach nationally and internationally while preserving its strong family values and commitment to employee SHOW SUMMARY In this episode of the Disruptive Successor Podcast, host Jonathan Goldhill talks with Jeff Ustin, Vice President of Western Bagel. Jeff shares the fascinating history of his family's 75-year-old bagel business, from its New York roots to becoming a West Coast staple. The conversation explores the unique challenges and triumphs of generational transitions, maintaining a strong company culture based on loyalty and respect, and the ongoing efforts to modernize and expand the brand in a competitive market. Jeff offers valuable insights into balancing tradition with innovation, adapting to consumer trends, and navigating market shifts like the COVID-19 pandemic, all while staying true to Western Bagel's core values. KEY TAKEAWAYS A Legacy Built on Hard Work and Family: Jeff highlights how Western Bagel's 75-year success is rooted in the tireless dedication of his great-grandfather and father, who instilled a strong work ethic and passion for the business from a young age.The Backbone of Employee Loyalty: The longevity and success of Western Bagel are largely attributed to their deep respect for employees, many of whom have been with the company for decades, fostered by an open-door policy and a family-like culture.Balancing Tradition with Innovation: Western Bagel masterfully combines its New York bagel heritage with an LA touch, creating a less dense bagel that appeals to the local market while continuously exploring new products and adapting to modern consumer preferences like high-protein options.Modernizing for the Next Generation: The company is actively investing in social media, hiring PR firms, and exploring new concepts to connect with younger customers and expand its brand presence, ensuring relevance in a constantly evolving market.Strategic Expansion in a Competitive Landscape: Jeff discusses the deliberate planning behind market expansion, emphasizing the need to "hit hard" when entering new areas and the constant evaluation of opportunities in wholesale, private label, and potential new factory locations.Lessons from Adversity: Navigating COVID-19: The pandemic, while challenging, pushed Western Bagel to adapt and grow, particularly in delivery services, leading to valuable operational improvements and a stronger, more resilient business.Sticking to Your Core and Giving Back: Jeff emphasizes the importance of focusing on what the company does best – making authentic bagels – and its unwavering commitment to community involvement and stewardship through charitable giving.QUOTES "You're only as good as your employees that you have. You need to be loyal to them. They're the backbone of your company.""If you don't change with the times, you're gonna fail.""You gotta know what you know and what you don't know... you gotta put that ego aside and, and trust people and learn.""We know we have the best bagel out there. We take pride in our bagel. We use the highest quality ingredient. I mean, it's a, it matters to us.""There's always something good that comes outta something horrific.""You gotta help those that need help... we believe that's our job as a, as a company, is to help those in need."Connect and learn more about Jeff Ustin and his company: Jeff Ustin's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-ustin-307a1710b/Western Bagel: https://westernbagel.com/ If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe, review, and share with a friend who would benefit from the message. If you’re interested in picking up a copy of Jonathan Goldhill’s book, Disruptive Successor, go to the website at www.DisruptiveSuccessor.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    45 min
  8. Episode 193 - Passing the Shovel: A Smooth Father-to-Son Transition in a Booming Landscape Business with Adam Frederico

    04/24/2025

    Episode 193 - Passing the Shovel: A Smooth Father-to-Son Transition in a Booming Landscape Business with Adam Frederico

    Adam Frederico grew up in Utah, surrounded by entrepreneurial family members, including his father, Russell Frederico, the founder of what is now Frederico Outdoor Living. A BYU graduate from the Marriott School, Adam spent 8 years in Chicago working in corporate America, startups, and consulting. He later pursued an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. It was during this experience that Adam decided to buy the family business and grow within the green industry. Adam aims to expand upon the 40-year legacy his father started. The company has been named to Lawn and Landscape Magazine’s “Best Places to Work” list multiple times, had projects featured in the Utah Valley Parade of Homes, and has won four “Best Landscaping Awards.” SHOW SUMMARY  In this episode of the Disruptive Successor Podcast, host Jonathan Goldhill talks with Adam Frederico, a next-generation leader who took over his family's landscape business, Frederico Outdoor Living. Adam shares his journey from corporate America to entrepreneurship, his experience implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), and the challenges and successes in transitioning and growing the family business. With insights on leadership, culture, and maintaining family harmony, this episode provides valuable lessons for anyone involved in a family business or considering a significant business transformation. KEY TAKEAWAYS Transitioning from Corporate to Family Business: Adam shares his personal journey from working in corporate America to taking over his family’s landscape business, Frederico Outdoor Living.Implementing EOS for Growth: Adam discusses how he successfully implemented the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to streamline operations, align his team, and drive business growth.Leadership and Family Harmony: Key insights into the challenges of leading a family business, maintaining family harmony, and creating a balanced leadership culture that fosters success.Overcoming Challenges in Business Succession: Adam highlights the unique obstacles of transitioning leadership in a family business, and how he navigated those challenges to ensure continuity and growth.Lessons for Next-Gen Leaders: Valuable advice for the next generation of leaders in family businesses, emphasizing the importance of leadership, culture, and strategic vision.Creating a Strong Company Culture: Adam explains how fostering a positive company culture has been instrumental in driving both employee satisfaction and business success.Advice for Family Business Owners: Practical lessons on how to sustain and grow a family business while preserving the legacy of previous generations.QUOTES "Entrepreneurship for me was taking something that was existing and making it better.""What differentiates a company is the process... It's how we deliver that client experience.""People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.""It's not just about catching a vision and talking about growth, it needs to be a co-created vision.""When those [one-on-ones] are consistent and really thoughtful, we are doing very well because the team feels aligned.""The green industry is a bit slow to adopt newer management practices... but it’s important to connect with employees on a personal level."Connect and learn more about Adam Frederico and his company: Adam's LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamfrederico/Adam's Company: Frederico Outdoor Living: https://www.linkedin.com/company/frederico-outdoor-living/ If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe, review, and share with a friend who would benefit from the message. If you’re interested in picking up a copy of Jonathan Goldhill’s book, Disruptive Successor, go to the website at www.DisruptiveSuccessor.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    51 min
5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

The Disruptive Successor Show is a podcast for next-generation leaders in family businesses and entrepreneurs who want to disrupt the status quo to grow their business and take it to the next level. We all know that what got us here isn’t going to get us there. If you are taking control over your family’s business or trying to get your business to the next level, you will need inspiration, advice and resources to help you create a massive impact. Listeners of my show include not only the millennial or Gen Z but also the Baby Boomer and Gen Y. My listeners tend to be involved in these industries: business services, construction, design-build-maintain landscape contracting, food manufacturing, property management, real estate, and technology. And are interested in issues like business coaching, branding, communication, difficult conversations, disruption, employee ownership, exit planning, financial management, leadership, innovation, intergenerational transfer, marketing, multi-generational family businesses, business operations, process documentation, security, selling, storytelling, succession, visioning, wealth management, My guests are entrepreneurs, family business advisors, multi-generational and Gen 2 family business leaders, heads of university family business programs, consultants, coaches and firms that serve those who are growth businesses. Clients of my show typically are running businesses with 10 to 200 employees and $1M to $20M in revenues. Their concerns include: scaling up, exit planning, succession, leadership development, disruption, business planning, finances, growth planning, transferring generational wealth, transferring control, ownership issues, and more. The benefits listeners receive are introductions to experts and advisors around the issues of growing and exiting a business, whether it’s a family business or entrepreneurial venture. They get a feel for the challenges other business owners and leaders face and how they overcame them. They will hear stories from people and how they came to do their work and why. My shows feature handpicked guests who engage with me in casual conversations lasting between 30 to 40 minutes. You can expect to be entertained, engaged and may even get takeaways like business tools or ideas for implementation in your business. I’ve led entrepreneurial adventures in art, clothing, a holistic health lifestyle magazine and trade show, shoe manufacturing. I’ve also led several non-profit organizations. I earned an MBA from the University of Southern California in Entrepreneurship. I’ve been advising, coaching and consulting family-owned, family-run and entrepreneur-led businesses since 1989. My love for entrepreneurship follows the closure of my family’s sizeable multi-generational clothing manufacturing company after eight decades of operation because there were no successors. After uncovering the code to scale up a family-run business - a playbook and a disruptive successor - I wrote a book called Disruptive Successor: A Guide To Driving Growth in Your Family Business. My podcast is my effort to bring interested people into the conversation to benefit disruptive successors.