Lucky 13 - All Things People AND Profit

Mike Lantz & Josh Hauser
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

How about we embrace the power of the AND? People AND Profit! Entrepreneurs and business leaders often think they must pick one, either people or profits, but in today's business climate, you can't have one without the other. In fact, one drives the other. Let's embrace the power of the AND, People, AND Profit. The Lucky 13 Podcast, hosted by entrepreneurs and business veterans Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser, will address all things people and profit in today's business climate. If you believe your people are your greatest strategic advantage to succeed in your business, you have found your podcast.

  1. Mar 30

    62 - The Most Overlooked Key to Business Success: Developing Middle Managers

    In this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, hosts Josh Hauser and Mike Lantz discuss the overlooked but crucial role of middle management in organizations. They explore common challenges faced by mid-level managers, such as lack of training, support, and feedback, and highlight the impact of leadership on employee well-being. Drawing on research and personal experiences, they emphasize the importance of coaching, mentoring, and intentional development to reduce turnover and build a healthier workplace culture, ultimately stressing that effective middle management benefits not only organizations but also employees' lives beyond work.   Technical Difficulties & Banter (00:00:10) Josh and Mike joke about red and green lights, technical issues, and introduce the podcast.   March Madness & Superstitions (00:01:00) Discussion about March Madness, favorite players, basketball superstitions, and personal sports rituals.   Transition to Middle Management (00:03:16) Shift from basketball to the main topic: the overlooked importance of middle management in organizations.   Defining Middle Management (00:03:31) Clarifying what constitutes middle management and its critical role in moving "human energy."   Common Mistakes in Developing Managers (00:04:08) Problems with promoting top performers without development, and the need for coaching, mentoring, and development.   Gallup Data & Turnover Issues (00:05:56) Gallup poll data on high turnover among mid-level managers, especially those under 35, and reasons for it.   Challenges of the "Sandwich" Role (00:06:39) Middle managers are caught between unclear senior leadership and frontline staff, leading to stress and mistakes.   Importance of Vulnerability & Learning from Mistakes (00:09:16) How creating a culture of vulnerability and sharing mistakes helps middle managers grow and learn.   Coaching Example & Missed Opportunities (00:10:33) A story about a missed coaching opportunity and the value of documenting and sharing lessons learned.   Developing a Middle Management Strategy (00:11:56) How to approach developing mid-level managers, including clarity, research, and gathering team input.   Structuring Leadership Development (00:14:01) Building an accountability chart, defining roles, and mapping out competencies and learning opportunities.   The Four Stages of Competence (00:18:06) Explaining unconscious incompetence to unconscious competence, and applying this framework to leadership development.   The Ripple Effect of Leadership (00:17:17 & 00:21:00) How leadership choices impact not just employees, but their families and overall well-being.   Manager Impact on Mental Health (00:21:38) Research showing a manager's influence on mental health surpasses even that of a spouse. Final Thoughts & Responsibility of Leadership   (00:22:34) Emphasizing the profound responsibility leaders have and the importance of taking middle management development seriously.

    23 min
  2. 61 - Why Your Executive Team Might Be Your Biggest Blind Spot

    Mar 23

    61 - Why Your Executive Team Might Be Your Biggest Blind Spot

    In this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser discuss the "ten blind spots of executive teams," focusing on leadership challenges that impact organizational effectiveness. They explore issues such as unclear vision, conflicting priorities, poor communication, and ego-driven decisions, offering practical advice and real-world examples. Referencing tools like EOS and books such as The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, the hosts emphasize the importance of trust, clear roles, healthy conflict, and decisive leadership for building strong executive teams that drive both people and profit. Podcast Introduction and Banter (00:00:08) Hosts introduce the podcast, joke about sponsors, and discuss the meaning behind "Lucky 13." St. Patrick's Day & True's Anniversary (00:00:51) Discussion about recording after St. Patrick's Day and celebrating trueU's nine-year anniversary. Company History and ML Talent Strategies (00:01:21) Background on the founding of trueU, its transition, and mention of ML Talent Strategies. Family and Illness Banter (00:01:59) Lighthearted talk about family illnesses and the challenges of large households. Reflecting on Quarantine and COVID (00:02:46) Reminiscing about the start of COVID quarantine six years ago. Episode Topic Introduction: Executive Team Blind Spots (00:03:10) Introduction to the main topic: ten blind spots of executive teams. Blind Spot #1: Lack of Clear Shared Vision and Goals (00:05:17) Discussion on the importance of a shared vision, EOS tools, and effective rollout strategies. Blind Spot #2: Conflicting Departmental Priorities (00:07:23) Exploring how executive loyalty should be to the leadership team, not just their departments. Blind Spot #3: Unclear Roles and Responsibilities (00:11:00) Emphasizing the need for clarity and alignment in roles to avoid confusion and missed tasks. Blind Spot #4: Poor Communication and Missed Updates (00:12:50) The impact of delayed or unclear communication and the importance of timely updates. Blind Spot #5: Ego and Personal Agendas Driving Decisions (00:15:21) How personal interests can undermine team effectiveness and the need to check egos. Sidebar: Technology in Executive Meetings (00:17:46) Debate on the use of technology in meetings and its impact on focus and productivity. Blind Spot #6: Lack of Trust Between Executives (00:19:13) Trust as the foundation for effective teams, referencing "Five Dysfunctions of a Team." Blind Spot #7: Inconsistent Decision Making (00:21:35) Problems caused by inconsistent decisions and the need for a unified decision-making framework. Blind Spot #8: Misaligned Metrics and Incentives (00:23:45) Challenges with setting the right metrics and aligning incentives to what teams can control. Blind Spot #9: Avoidance of Healthy Conflict (00:26:14) The dangers of avoiding conflict and the importance of addressing issues directly and promptly. Blind Spot #10: Weak Leadership from the CEO (00:27:31) How indecisive or passive CEOs create organizational paralysis and the need for strong leadership.

    30 min
  3. 60 - Daily Habits for Effective Leadership and Personal Growth

    Feb 16

    60 - Daily Habits for Effective Leadership and Personal Growth

    In this episode of The Lucky 13 Podcast, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser discuss Josh's recent Arizona trip and the frustrations of travel, using these experiences to highlight the importance of intentional daily reflection. They introduce practical leadership habits like setting three daily goals, journaling, and reviewing what went well or poorly. The hosts encourage listeners to adopt a 15-minute end-of-day reflection routine, supported by technology, to boost productivity, maintain perspective, and foster personal and professional growth—emphasizing that small, consistent habits can lead to significant improvements in business and life. Podcast Introduction (00:00:08) Hosts introduce themselves and the podcast, "The Lucky 13 Podcast," focused on people, profit, and business. Josh's Arizona Trip & Family Logistics (00:00:20) Josh discusses his daughter's volleyball tournament in Arizona, family travel logistics, and the sports facility. Parking & Venue Experience (00:00:49) Details about the parking system at the sports complex and thoughts on monetizing local parks. Airplane Boarding & Passenger Frustrations (00:01:42) Josh vents about airplane boarding confusion, passenger behavior, and inefficiencies during deplaning. Travel Gripe: Walking Path Etiquette (00:03:59) Discussion about people blocking walking paths, comparing it to poor driving and sidewalk etiquette. Transition: Leadership & Business Reflection (00:05:19) Josh pivots from travel frustrations to a leadership lesson about daily reflection and checklists. Daily Reflection Checklist: Three Goals (00:07:06) Introduction to the daily reflection checklist, focusing on setting and reviewing three main goals each day. Choosing the Right Goals (00:08:03) Emphasis on selecting the most important goals that drive business and personal progress. Reflection: What Went Well or Poorly (00:09:54) Discussion on auditing the day, learning from successes and failures, and improving daily habits. Reflection: One Story from Yesterday (00:11:17) Importance of recalling a memorable story from the previous day to maintain perspective and motivation. Using Technology for Reflection (00:13:36) Ideas for using AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude to automate and store daily reflections. Rating the Day & Weekly Review (00:15:09) Encouragement to rate each day, track progress, and use weekly averages to measure growth. The Value of Daily Reflection (00:16:44) Reflection as a tool to slow down, stay present, and avoid losing track of time and achievements. Assignment: Implementing the Reflection Routine (00:18:15) Challenge to listeners: spend 15 minutes daily answering four reflection questions, using tech if desired. Episode Wrap-Up (00:19:10) Closing remarks, encouragement, and a final joke about sidewalk etiquette.

    19 min
  4. 59 - The Best Way to Attract Top Talent: Cultivate a Winning Culture

    Feb 9

    59 - The Best Way to Attract Top Talent: Cultivate a Winning Culture

    In this podcast episode, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser discuss the vital role of company culture and employee engagement in business success, using Indiana University football's championship win as a metaphor. They explore how building a strong employer brand attracts top talent, boosts engagement, and drives discretionary effort. Backed by Gallup research, they highlight the measurable benefits of an engaged workforce, such as higher profitability and lower turnover. The conversation emphasizes that culture is not just part of strategy—it is the strategy, serving as the operating system that powers organizational growth and sustained performance.   Football Championship & IU Pride (00:00:07) Celebrating Indiana University's football national championship win and the emotional aftermath. Family Updates & Personal Catch-Up (00:01:53) Speakers discuss family news, kids, grandkids, and humorous stories about remembering names. Travel Plans & Weather Chat (00:03:56) Conversation about vacation plans, weather disappointments, and lighthearted banter about swimwear. Introduction to Business Culture Discussion (00:04:47) Speaker 1 shares insights from a recent meeting with business owners about people as a strategic advantage. Consumer Brand vs. Employer Brand (00:05:21) Explains the dual roles of business owners: building consumer and employer brands. Culture as Strategy & The Talent Flywheel (00:07:19) Debates Peter Drucker's "culture eats strategy" and introduces the concept of the talent/culture flywheel. Employee Experience & Attracting A Players (00:08:52) Discusses the importance of employee experience in attracting and retaining top talent. Engagement, Discretionary Effort, and Business Results (00:11:21) Explains how great culture leads to engagement, discretionary effort, and improved business outcomes. Gallup Data & The ROI of Engagement (00:13:37) Shares Gallup research on profitability, productivity, turnover, and safety linked to employee engagement. Flywheel Effect & Reinforcing Culture (00:15:01) Describes how business results feed back into improving employee experience, using IU football as an example. Challenges in Implementing Culture (00:16:03) Explores why some organizations struggle to adopt a strong culture and the need for an "operating system." Role of HR & Making Culture Simple (00:18:17) Discusses the evolving role of HR, the importance of compliance, and the need for a simple, effective playbook. Hard Work of Building Culture (00:20:02) Contrasts easy but ineffective culture efforts with the hard, worthwhile work of building a strong employee experience. Defender Story & Culture as The Strategy (00:20:29) Shares a case study of company growth driven by culture, concluding that culture is the core business strategy. Episode Wrap-Up & Go Hoosiers (00:21:19) Final thoughts, agreement on culture as strategy, and a closing cheer for IU.

    22 min
  5. 58 - From Origin Story to Core Focus: Crafting Your Business Identity

    12/29/2025

    58 - From Origin Story to Core Focus: Crafting Your Business Identity

    In this Lucky 13 Podcast episode, Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser discuss the importance of "core focus" in business and personal development. They explore how a company's origin story shapes its purpose, passion, and niche, emphasizing the need to revisit and clarify these elements regularly. Through personal anecdotes and practical examples, they highlight how a clear core focus guides decision-making, prevents distractions, and energizes teams. The conversation also touches on the value of discipline in saying no to misaligned opportunities and the role of both founders and employees in living out a shared purpose.   Podcast Introduction and Banter (00:00:08) Hosts introduce themselves, joke about swag, and discuss the sponsor and event planning. Personal Update: Josh's Daughter at Liberty University (00:01:16) Josh shares about his daughter's hip surgery recovery and her experience at Liberty University. Holiday and New Year Reflections (00:02:34) Discussion about Christmas, the episode's release timing, and looking ahead to 2026. Introducing Core Focus Topic (00:03:25) Mike introduces the concept of "core focus" and its challenges in business. Origin Story and Core Focus Questions (00:03:50) Josh explains the importance of a company's origin story and three core questions to clarify core focus. Core Focus vs. Business Plan (00:04:49) Distinguishing between a company's core focus and its business plan, using Mary Kay as an example.

    22 min
  6. 57 - Are You Expanding Your Business or Just Filling Space?

    12/22/2025

    57 - Are You Expanding Your Business or Just Filling Space?

    In this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, hosts Josh Hauser and Mike Lantz share personal holiday traditions before diving into business insights. They discuss Parkinson's Law, emphasizing how work expands to fill available time, and warn against unnecessary hiring and bureaucratic growth. The conversation highlights the pitfalls of focusing on trivial issues, accumulating organizational "junk," and prioritizing appearances over substance. The hosts encourage leaders to set tighter deadlines, regularly eliminate inefficiencies, and foster honest self-reflection to build resilient, purpose-driven organizations. The episode closes with reflections on company culture, humility, and a lighthearted chat about classic sports movies.   Holiday Anecdotes and Family Traditions (00:00:08) Hosts Josh and Mike share Christmas plans, themed dinners, and family stories, setting a festive, personal tone. Client Culture and Organizational Foundations (00:02:23) Discussion about a client's strong company culture, family-like environment, and building organizational foundations. Sports, Leadership, and Culture Lessons (00:03:42) Reflections on a recent football game, leadership lessons, and the impact of culture and coaching on team success. Introduction to Parkinson's Law (00:05:33) Explanation of Parkinson's Law—work expands to fill the time allotted—and its relevance to meetings and deadlines. Capacity, Efficiency, and Bureaucratic Growth (00:06:38) How companies operate below capacity, risk of unnecessary hiring, and the tendency toward bureaucratic growth. Inverse Importance in Meetings (00:09:42) The concept that minor issues get more attention than major ones; illustrated with personal and business examples. Junk Expansion and Organizational Clutter (00:12:49) How physical and procedural clutter grows with organizations, and the importance of regular elimination and discipline. Organizational Decline and Return on Attention (00:15:35) How unchecked growth and misplaced focus lead to decline; the need for honest reflection and prioritizing substance over image. Reflection, Learning, and Movie Analogies (00:19:12) Encouragement to reflect, learn from experience, and apply lessons, with references to movies and Indiana sports films.

    21 min
  7. 56 - Mastering the Art of Employee Evaluation: Balancing Will Sets and Skill Sets for Team Success

    12/08/2025

    56 - Mastering the Art of Employee Evaluation: Balancing Will Sets and Skill Sets for Team Success

    In this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser dive into people management, work-life alignment, and employee evaluation, using the holiday season as a backdrop. They discuss how aligning personal and professional lives brings clarity, then explore evaluating employees through "will sets" (motivation) and "skill sets" (ability). The conversation covers managing low performers, re-engaging disengaged experts, developing high potentials, and coaching top talent. Sports analogies and real-life examples illustrate strategies for feedback, ownership, and recognition. Sponsored by Santa Claus and Twisted Sisters, the episode offers practical leadership insights for building high-performing teams.   Holiday Traditions and Work-Life Alignment (00:00:08) Hosts Mike and Josh discuss Christmas traditions, family alignment, and parallels between personal and professional life during holidays. Fiddle Fart Fridays and Family Connection (00:02:12) Weekly tradition of matching outfits and spending quality time together during the holiday season. Core Values and Alignment in Family and Work (00:03:01) How clarity and alignment in family traditions can translate to business and work life. Sponsor Shoutout and Holiday Retail Life (00:03:28) Mention of Twisted Sisters retail store and the impact of holiday season on retail business. Employee Evaluation: Will Sets and Skill Sets (00:04:19) Introduction to evaluating employees based on motivation (will sets) and abilities (skill sets). Defining Will Sets and Skill Sets (00:05:32) Clarifying what "will sets" and "skill sets" mean in the context of employee performance. Quadrant Chart for Employee Evaluation (00:06:34) Explanation of using a quadrant chart to categorize employees by will and skill. Low Performers: Setting Standards and Limits (00:07:08) How to handle employees with low will and low skill, including setting clear standards and exit strategies. Disengaged Experts: High Skill, Low Will (00:10:17) Addressing employees with high skill but low motivation, and strategies to re-engage or exit them. Impact of Tolerating Low Performance (00:12:39) Consequences of keeping low performers and disengaged experts on the team. High Potentials: High Will, Low Skill (00:14:22) Approaches for developing eager employees who lack some skills, including coaching and small wins. Coaching and Permission to Develop (00:17:06) Importance of asking for permission to coach and providing consistent feedback to high potentials. Top Performers: High Will, High Skill (00:18:39) Strategies for managing top performers, including raising standards, stewardship, and two-way feedback. Recognizing and Rewarding Top Performers (00:22:11) The importance of recognition, incentives, and involving top performers in goal setting. Year-End Evaluation and Team Strategy (00:22:36) Encouragement to use the matrix for year-end evaluations and to strategize for team development. Closing Remarks and Sports Analogy (00:23:35) Final thoughts, sports analogies, and a lighthearted sign-off.

    24 min
  8. 55 - The Challenge of Balancing Leadership and Friendship in Business

    12/01/2025

    55 - The Challenge of Balancing Leadership and Friendship in Business

    In this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser reconnect, sharing lighthearted banter about local food favorites before diving into a reflective business discussion. They emphasize the importance of honest year-end reviews, hiring the right people, and upholding core company values. The conversation explores balancing accountability and friendship, demanding excellence with compassion, and avoiding fear-based retention. Using personal stories and practical tools, Mike and Josh encourage leaders to foster team alignment, address issues early, and make data-driven decisions to drive organizational success in the coming year.   Podcast Introduction & Wawa Memories (00:00:08) Mike and Josh reconnect, discuss Wawa, the Gobbler sandwich, and share local food stories. Sponsorship Jokes & Fitness Anecdotes (00:02:00) Hosts joke about potential sponsors, sauna suits, speaking gigs, and introversion after public speaking. Thorntons Pizza & Local Food Chat (00:03:45) Discussion about Thorntons gas station pizza, local food favorites, and brief Costco pizza mention. Transition to Business Reflection (00:04:30) Shifting from casual chat to business topics, reflecting on the fast year and personal growth. Guest Speaker & The Bravery Effect (00:04:57) Announcement of Jill Schulman as a future guest, her book, and the concept of taking a leap. Year-End Autopsy & Old vs. New Thinking (00:06:11) Encouragement to do a thorough year-end review, start/stop analysis, and old vs. new business mindsets. Hiring: Warm Bodies vs. Right People (00:07:28) Contrast between filling seats with anyone versus focusing on right people, right seats, and hiring discipline. Managing Around Weaknesses (00:09:17) Discussing the tendency to manage around personal and team weaknesses, and the need to delegate and elevate. Politics Over Performance (00:11:22) Exploring how loyalty and politics can overshadow performance, and the importance of core values in hiring and promotion. Friendship vs. Accountability (00:14:24) How personal relationships can hinder accountability, and why radical candor and truth-telling matter in leadership. Accepting "Good Enough" vs. Demanding Excellence (00:17:07) The dangers of settling for mediocrity and the need to set and uphold higher standards for performance. Building Roles to Fit Talent vs. Organizational Needs (00:19:07) Pitfalls of creating roles around existing people instead of organizational needs, and the importance of clear accountability. Fear-Based Retention & Single Points of Failure (00:20:47) Keeping employees out of fear of losing unique skills, and the risks of single points of failure in organizations. Subjective vs. Objective Evaluations (00:22:19) Moving from subjective, fear-based evaluations to data-driven, objective performance reviews. Compromising Culture for Performance (00:23:20) The cost of tolerating high performers who damage culture, and the need to prioritize values over numbers. Indefinite Patience vs. Timely Action (00:24:18) The problem of waiting too long to address issues, and the importance of prompt, disciplined feedback. Conclusion & Tools for Year-End Reflection (00:25:35) Encouragement to use structured tools for year-end reviews, emphasizing clarity, discipline, and continuous improvement.

    26 min
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About

How about we embrace the power of the AND? People AND Profit! Entrepreneurs and business leaders often think they must pick one, either people or profits, but in today's business climate, you can't have one without the other. In fact, one drives the other. Let's embrace the power of the AND, People, AND Profit. The Lucky 13 Podcast, hosted by entrepreneurs and business veterans Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser, will address all things people and profit in today's business climate. If you believe your people are your greatest strategic advantage to succeed in your business, you have found your podcast.

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