Send us a text

Breaking through glass ceilings is the entrepreneur's constant challenge. Every stage of business growth demands new skills, knowledge, and experiences—gaps that must be identified and filled to reach the next level.

Our guest reveals the bittersweet reality of entrepreneurship when he shares the heartbreaking moment his young daughter brought him her piggy bank saying, "So you don't have to work no more." This pivotal experience transformed his approach to work-life balance, teaching him to prioritize family while maintaining his business ambitions.

Now, years wiser, he's intentional about creating meaningful moments with his children—from impromptu golf outings and vacation time to bringing his teenage son into the business. This "60% forced, 40% interest" approach gives his son professional skills and experiences 6-8 years ahead of his peers, what our guest calls "the golden ticket" his son doesn't yet appreciate.

The entrepreneurial journey is undeniably lonely. Without a boss providing direction, self-motivation becomes essential. Successful entrepreneurs treat their business with disciplined structure, "clocking in at 8 and out by 5," doing the uncomfortable work that drives growth. Surrounding yourself with the right people—peer groups and business mentors who've already broken through your current ceiling—accelerates progress dramatically.

For those building businesses, remember that comparing your journey to others only creates unnecessary stress. Every path is unique. Instead, be relentless, embrace discomfort, and recognize that continuous personal development powers business growth. The freedom waiting on the other side makes this challenging journey profoundly rewarding.

Ready to secure your business and focus on growth rather than IT problems? Reach out today and let's elevate your company together.

Support the show

Links to Follow Empower & Elevate Podcast 24/7:

• https://linktr.ee/empowerelevatepodcast
• https://www.youtube.com/@EmpowerElevatePodcast
• https://www.facebook.com/EmpowerElevatePodcast
• https://www.instagram.com/EmpowerElevatePodcast
• https://www.threads.net/@EmpowerElevatePodcast
• https://www.twitter.com/EmpowerElevateP
• https://www.tiktok.com/@empowerelevatepodcast
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/empowerelevatepodcast

Hi, I’m Marc Thomas, Founder and CEO of Current TEK Solutions and CYBER GUARDIANS. If you or someone you know could benefit from our cutting-edge IT and cybersecurity services, we’d love to help. Reach out to us today to learn how we can secure and elevate your business. https://www.currentTEKsolutions.com

Send us a text

What happens when you realize your head is bleeding from banging it against the wall of repeated behaviors? Lou Winter's riveting account of personal transformation begins with this visceral metaphor for the frustration that accompanies stagnation.

"I absolutely believe in holistic wellbeing," Winter explains, outlining his rigorous daily practices: 5:30 AM workouts, weekend beach runs, meditation, yoga, and consuming a book weekly. But his journey toward this balanced life wasn't straightforward. With refreshing candor, he admits to having been "a professional drinker" whose habits eventually stopped serving his growth. "Didn't serve me anymore," he reflects simply, marking the profound shift in his relationship with himself.

The conversation delves deep into ego management—distinguishing between its destructive and constructive forms. Winter describes moving from being "the apex predator" concerned primarily with personal success to finding fulfillment by elevating others. "Am I serving my wife properly? Am I serving my children properly? Am I serving my team properly?" These questions revolutionized his approach to leadership, culminating in his creation of a succession plan at The Pacific Institute where he now serves as CEO Emeritus.

Perhaps most compelling is Winter's account of navigating his consultancy through COVID-19's existential threat. Faced with an analog company suddenly needing digital transformation, he embraced vulnerability and innovation. "What got us here won't get us there," he acknowledges, quoting Marshall Goldsmith's wisdom on the necessity of evolution.

Ready to explore your own pattern interrupts? This episode offers practical wisdom for anyone seeking to break cycles that no longer serve their growth. Subscribe now and join our community of intentional leaders committed to both personal development and serving others.

Support the show

Links to Follow Empower & Elevate Podcast 24/7:

• https://linktr.ee/empowerelevatepodcast
• https://www.youtube.com/@EmpowerElevatePodcast
• https://www.facebook.com/EmpowerElevatePodcast
• https://www.instagram.com/EmpowerElevatePodcast
• https://www.threads.net/@EmpowerElevatePodcast
• https://www.twitter.com/EmpowerElevateP
• https://www.tiktok.com/@empowerelevatepodcast
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/empowerelevatepodcast

Hi, I’m Marc Thomas, Founder and CEO of Current TEK Solutions and CYBER GUARDIANS. If you or someone you know could benefit from our cutting-edge IT and cybersecurity services, we’d love to help. Reach out to us today to learn how we can secure and elevate your business. https://www.currentTEKsolutions.com

Send us a text

Have you ever wondered what makes truly great teams function so seamlessly? The secret might be simpler than you think: shared values that everyone genuinely believes in.

When Mark set out to establish core values for his company, he initially approached it as a solo exercise. "I have to come up with what I believe my core values are," he explains, reflecting on his early leadership journey. But the magic happened when he opened up this process to his entire team. Suddenly, these weren't just Mark's values—they became the team's collective compass, something everyone had a stake in upholding.

The surprising revelation came when "communication" emerged as a core value the team prioritized, catching Mark off guard. This sparked important self-reflection: "Is it because I don't communicate enough? Do they feel like there's not enough transparency?" This vulnerable moment highlights how collaborative value-setting creates opportunities for growth that top-down approaches often miss. Other values like integrity, teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement rounded out their foundation, creating a framework that guides both internal interactions and client relationships.

What happens after establishing these values? The conversation explores how Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) transform abstract values into measurable actions. As Mark beautifully puts it, "by having the team help with the core values, it's much easier to get them in the boat rowing with me as a team and not rowing in a different direction." This rowing analogy perfectly captures the essence of values-based leadership—when everyone understands and believes in the destination, they naturally align their efforts without constant management. Listen now to discover how defining your core values might be the most important team exercise you'll ever undertake.

Support the show

Links to Follow Empower & Elevate Podcast 24/7:

• https://linktr.ee/empowerelevatepodcast
• https://www.youtube.com/@EmpowerElevatePodcast
• https://www.facebook.com/EmpowerElevatePodcast
• https://www.instagram.com/EmpowerElevatePodcast
• https://www.threads.net/@EmpowerElevatePodcast
• https://www.twitter.com/EmpowerElevateP
• https://www.tiktok.com/@empowerelevatepodcast
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/empowerelevatepodcast

Hi, I’m Marc Thomas, Founder and CEO of Current TEK Solutions and CYBER GUARDIANS. If you or someone you know could benefit from our cutting-edge IT and cybersecurity services, we’d love to help. Reach out to us today to learn how we can secure and elevate your business. https://www.currentTEKsolutions.com