The Third Growth Option with Benno Duenkelsbuehler and Guests Benno Duenkelsbuehler

When Steve Berry swapped the familiarity of Boston for Miami's melting pot, his world turned upside down, and so did his approach to business and life. 

Steve's transformation from being rooted in uniformity to thriving amidst diversity led to a personal leap across cultural lines, led to love, and also to the creation of multi-million dollar ventures that blend unique ideas with varied people, showing us that embracing change can be the cornerstone of success.

Retail is a playground for innovation, and we've got an insider's take on revitalizing a family legacy in today's fast-paced market. One encounter with Amazon buyers at a trade show catapulted satin pillowcases and shower caps to the top of online sales charts, demonstrating the power of modern consumer behavior.

Steve's entrepreneurial spirit led to adding to traditional distribution channels and embracing social media marketing, celebrating the unique connections between barbers and clients with professional athletes through personal tales. 

Steve embraces differences and builds bridges to connect new ideas and worlds. 

How do you build personal trust communities, to catapult your growth in life and career? Mike Thorne, the brain behind and CEO of Trust Inside, shares his journey and how these communities have become his rock. Mike's mantra of 'belong, build, believe', acts as a compass guiding him through life's different stages, as a valuable workbook underscoring these concepts and their pivotal role in personal and professional development.

Self-awareness plays a key role in achieving success, both personally and professionally. Our past experiences and challenges often unveil our superpowers. Authenticity and genuine connections become vital cogs in the wheel, pushing us beyond mere transactional benefits. Self-awareness helps us to forge meaningful relationships.

Mike walks us through his six-page workbook designed to assist individuals and couples in understanding their present perspectives and outlining future aspirations. He brings to life the benefits of self-reflection and setting clear intentions for your journey, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and networking in your growth journey. Join us, and unlock your potential to keep growing!

We speak to  KAIVAC's leader, Bob Robinson Jr., about  how to view progress and creativity in business. Bob's seasoned perspective emphasizes how innovation transcends mere product development, shaping the very essence of corporate systems. Drawing parallels between KAIVAC's innovation ethos and the miracle of new life, Bob illustrates a corporate culture where evolution is as natural as breathing.
Listen to  why failure should not just be accepted, but embraced as an essential component of progress. Bob's reflections on the significance of humility in leadership and the potency of diverse viewpoints in fostering innovation challenges conventional notions of success. From prioritizing F.A.I.L. as a 'First Attempt In Learning' to embracing 'commander's intent' for strategic clarity, we learn about cultivating a resilient and innovative organizational culture. 

You've spent years building your business, pouring every ounce of your energy into fostering its growth. But, it's time to move on. The decision to sell your business is a significant one, and it's crucial to understand the journey you're about to embark on. In this candid conversation with Brent Rippe, partner at RKCA, an investment banking firm in Cincinnati, OH, we delve into the intricate M&A process. From pre-planning to navigating the market, Brent guides us through the complex terrain of business transition. 

Learn from Brent's detailed description of the build-to-sale process. He streamlines the path for owners and stakeholders to attain their objectives, breaking down the multi-step and multi-year process in preparation for a successful sale, and the importance of clarity in decision-making for optimal valuation. 

We wrap up with an inspiring story of a business merger that resulted in a nine-figure outcome, a testament to the power of transparency and stakeholder involvement in facilitating a prosperous merger. Brent's insights are a treasure trove for business leaders and entrepreneurs. 

This episode helps to demystify the process of selling a business and provides a roadmap for those considering the leap to a successful business transition. 

John Baines, a remarkable leader who ascended from engineer to president by the age of 29, shares his compelling journey to growth by embracing the unfamiliar, the uncomfortable, and even the panic-inducing aspects of leadership. John offers invaluable insights into leadership evolution. 
In our reflective dialogue, we delve into the iceberg metaphor of personal development and leadership, emphasizing the hidden depths where our true selves reside. Navigating beyond the surface requires conscious effort, encouraging self-discovery, questioning, seeking, and being open to both giving and receiving advice. 

The blueprint-to-finished-building analogies are unavoidable when speaking both personal and corporate growth, with Jeffrey Sackenheim, the visionary CEO of SHP. Jeff is an architect's architect, and he's turning a 123-year-old design and architecture firm into a national trailblazer in educational design in both a humble and talented way. 

Jeff's journey from hands-on architect to leading a firm with adaptability and innovation, punctuated by resilience and strategic foresight, gives insight into both the human side of architectural design and the importance of authenticity to fuel the evolution of a business within ever-changing landscapes. 

Don't miss this conversation that connects the personal with the professional, a symphony of lessons in strategic growth and genuine leadership.