Build Better Business Podcast with Chuck Crumpton

"Perfection erodes trust" - Actress and CEO Kelly Hadous

Kelly has an impressive background - she's originally from New York City with undergraduate and master's degrees from NYU, plus post-graduate work at Harvard and Columbia. She is a classically trained actor who performed mainly on stage. I'm honored to call her my friend. Kelly founded Win the Room (WTR) at a crossroads in her career, not wanting to return to acting or Wall Street. She began helping people with investor pitches, public speaking, sales, and leadership.  . The company naturally evolved from combining her business experience with her acting background and understanding of audience psychology. She emphasizes that vulnerability is "everything" in communication - being willing to show up without certainty of outcome, acknowledging what you don't know, and not being perfect. She notes that perfection gets in the way of creating rapport, trust, connection, and engagement. She emphasizes that audiences want to know "what's in it for me" (WIFM)   For executives moving into higher roles requiring more communication skills, Kelly explains that effective public speaking is "a heightened form of communication" requiring significant practice. She cites Steve Jobs practicing daily for 3-4 weeks for a 30-minute presentation. The key is developing both the science (technical structure) and art (connecting with audience) of communication . Kelly's company Win the Room specializes in working with growth companies, combining business strategy with performance and audience connection skills. She can be reached at WinTheRoom.com If I can help you buy or sell a business, please let me know. I've had the privilege of building and selling 3 of my own companies over the past 30 years. Feel free to reach out to me at 864-915-0066. Thanks...Chuck.     Enjoy the show!

Successful negotiation is a process not an event - CEO Andres Lares joins Chuck

Andres has an MSA and MBA from Ohio University and wrote a book called "Persuade: The Four Step Process to Influence People and Decisions" The most critical element in negotiation is thorough preparation, which not only provides information but builds confidence. Andres emphasizes that "nothing convinces like conviction" and proper preparation creates the confidence needed for effective negotiation. There's an important distinction between waiting to speak and truly listening. A fundamental principle is that "negotiation is a process, not an event"  Andres references Albert Mehrabian's research showing that 93% of communication is non-verbal (tone and body language), with only 7% being the actual words spoken.   The overarching philosophy, derived from Ron Shapiro's "Power of Nice" approach, is to "maximize your objectives while satisfying the other side". This win-win approach builds long-term reputation and relationships.   He recommends asking employees directly about their motivations and "love language" to better understand what drives them beyond just compensation. We help business leaders buy and sell great companies. Let me know how I can help you. Chuck Crumpton Chuck@StrategicAdvisoryForum.com [https://strategicadvisoryforum.com]

Former food CEO Harry T. Jones hired folks no one else would hire.

At SAF, we help folks buy and sell great companies and build in the process. Most see a 5-7x ROI because of the work we do. Let's set up a call to discuss. [https://calendly.com/chuck-176/general-purpose-call] Enjoy my conversation with Harry! Harry T. Jones describes himself as "living a life of second and third chances" - he's in his third career and second marriage. He spent over 20 years in food manufacturing as a CEO and emphasizes that "the most difficult times in my life have proven to be the richest".  His second business, Blackberry Patch, focused on food manufacturing where they hired people "that nobody else would hire" .  A key principle Jones applies is defining your niche: "What can your business do better than any company in the marketplace and be rewarded for it" Harry now helps business founders through "breakthrough groups" with succession planning. His goal is to help 100 founders execute succession plans over 10 years, with 18 already completed or in process. His breakthrough groups provide a confidential environment where "CEOs can come to a group and let their hair down and share some of their vulnerabilities".  He concludes with his business philosophy: "We must make a profit in order to bless the communities we serve and advance our purpose".

Top auctioneer Leland Little gives us a unique inside peek into auctions, life, and leadership.

In addition to being one hell of a business leader, Leland is a husband, father, and my friend. I highly recommend you visit his very impressive gallery in Hillsborough, NC.  LelandLittle.com [https://lelandlittle.com] The auction business has undergone significant transformation over Little's 35-year career. Market preferences have shifted from 18th and 19th century antiques (popular in the 1980s-1990s) to mid-century modern and contemporary pieces produced after 1970.  The business has evolved from manual processes with hand-clerked tickets to fully digital operations.   Leland emphasizes that their competition isn't just other auction houses, but cultural expectations for convenience, citing Amazon's next-day delivery and instant payment systems as benchmarks. The company aims to make auction participation as easy as "going to Starbucks".     Little emphasizes that trust is "critical" in an industry dealing with fakes, forgeries, and condition issues. The company maintains credibility through long-term employees (about half of their 40-person team are career professionals) who have specialized expertise in various departments.   Leland advocates for daily attention to details, continuous coaching through programs, and maintaining strong cash flow with minimal debt. He emphasizes the importance of personal development, particularly maintaining strong home relationships, as foundational to business success.  His advice to struggling business owners focuses on three priorities...  Listen and enjoy! I help business leaders buy and sell great companies. Let me know how I can help you. Chuck Crumpton Chuck@StrategicAdvisoryForum.com 864.915.0066

Chief Pilot and former POW Mike Penn - an incredible true story of survival, life, & overcoming

Captain Mike Penn flew 87 combat missions until he was shot down and had to eject at 500 miles per hour. From being a POW at the "Hanoi Hilton" in Vietnam, to becoming the Chief Pilot at Southwest Airlines, to battling addiction, Mike shares his incredible life story. This episode moved me like few have. You will be drawn to his transparency, humility, candor, and demeanor.  Please enjoy and let me know your feedback. Chuck@StrategicAdvisoryForum.com [https://strategicadvisoryforum.com] I help business owners buy and sell great companies. Let me know if I can help you.