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Message from Brad Hams,
Founder of Ownership Thinking
I am delighted to announce that Alex Freytag has recently accepted the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Ownership Thinking, which means he will have responsibility for the bulk of our operations going forward.
Alex has been with OT for over six years, and has done an exceptional job in every role he’s had.
I know he will excel in this role, as well.
In addition, Alex bought into the company some months ago, so is now officially a partner as well.
My role will be changing a bit given this change.
I have four strategic objectives for 2013:
- Infrastructure: Figuring out the best structure for us as it relates to licensees (vs. franchise), contractors, and W2 consultants. Also admin structure, tax, international implications, etc.
- People: Getting top notch consultants on board (mix of contractors and W2)
- Writing the next book (or books).
Also getting my current book on audio by the end of this year.
- High profile keynotes and other speaking engagements, both domestic and international.
I could use all of your help on #4.
If you know of any associations or organizations that you think would have an interest in having me speak, please let me know.
My fees are generally $7,500 to $12,500 plus expenses, though I hope to get that bumped up by the end of the 2013 to $20k.
I’m willing to travel anywhere in the U.S., and also internationally, for the right opportunity.
This is one of the most impactful things I can do to continue to grow the OT brand and expand our mission.
Thanks for any help you can provide!
Let us know if you need any speaker’s packets, and we can get some to you.
You can contact me directly if you have information: brad@ownershipthinking.com.
Brad
Events
2012 Ownership Thinking Conference
Our conference this year was simply outstanding! The incredible speakers and the quality of the attendees, not to mention the huge boost in attendance, all contributed to the success, which was reflected in the exemplary evaluations we received from attendees. If you attended the conference this year and are an Ownership Thinking Club member, please login to our Members Only section of our website and choose the “Conference 2012” tab to access the speakers slides and handouts.
2013 Ownership Thinking Conference
We’ve decided to extend the 2013 conference to 2 ˝ days next year so we have time for three general session workshops, additional breakout sessions and meet the expert lunches. The 2013 conference dates are October 16th - 18th, 2013. It will again be held at the Inverness Hotel and Conference Center (same as our last 6 conferences) however in future years we will begin moving the conference around the country. Our team at Ownership Thinking is finalizing the agenda for next year, and it will be posted on our website next month. Register soon to take advantage of the early bird pricing. There are also sponsorship opportunities available. Contact Carmen for details.
A Special OT Conference Report from Ownership Thinking’s Australian licensee
(Linda Sirol, Succession Plus)
Having just returned from the Ownership Thinking 2012 Annual conference in Denver, Colorado, I was greatly encouraged by the success stories shared by the nearly 200 attendees (business owners, employees and other Ownership Thinking consultants from around the world). Several highlights shared by business owners were:
A US IT consulting and managed services business doubled their 2011 profit to achieve a net profit of $2m in 2012, just 1.5 years after implementing Ownership Thinking. A cabinetry business recovered $21k in their first 3 months with their first Rapid Improvement Plan after implementing Ownership Thinking in May this year. This means the program paid for itself in the first quarter of implementation!
Many owners were also pleased to report a natural “shedding of dead wood”, typically their ‘worst’ employees – i.e. those who weren't willing to be held accountable and part of an earning culture, left in the first few months, normally to the great relief of their hardworking, culturally-aligned co-workers. To quote Greg Bustin, who presented a great keynote titled - all in and playing along - “If we’re playing baseball and someone wants to play hockey, they need to go somewhere else.”
There is a huge upside to Ownership Thinking: it’s not just about the money. So often we hear owners frustrated with the incredibly erosive sense of entitlement from their employees, lack of engagement and accountability. Feedback from owners who have implemented Ownership Thinking tells of resounding success in building cultures of accountability, winning and team alignment.
Ownership Thinking Licensees Update
Ownership Thinking has 3 domestic licensees (Indiana, Hawaii and San Francisco) and 2 international licensees (Canada and Australia/New Zealand). In launching Ownership Thinking in Indiana last month, The Midland Group lined up short breakfast, lunch and cocktail talks with business owners, banks’ commercial lending departments, law firms and accounting firms. It was an excellent way to build awareness among the business owners in their market and they are off to a great start! For more information on their backgrounds and bios, please visit the About Us page on our website.
A RIP Payoff with the Adult Contract
(Tom Bouwer, Ownership Thinking)
After implementing Ownership Thinking, the first RIP (Rapid Improvement Plan) for a Texas company with 80 field techs was designed around getting paperwork and timesheets in on time.
Some of the benefits are increased cash flow from timely, proper invoicing, more accurate payroll calculations, and less rework by the field tech and accounting staff. One month into the RIP, the CEO called the company together. She told them that they were not meeting their RIP goals as 5 of the field techs did not get their paperwork in on time.
After the meeting, a small group of techs approached the owner and asked for the names of the 5 techs. Using the Adult Contract, this group went to each of the 5 techs individually and delivered the message “We’re not going to tolerate this behavior. We want this to succeed”. Within one week, 3 of the 5 techs left the company, and the remaining 2 agreed to clean up their act. Again, these were not supervisors but all peers. They successfully met the RIP objectives and are on track for a 30% incentive payout this year.
Recommending an Upcoming Conference
Dave Logan (author of Tribal Leadership and keynote speaker at this year’s Ownership Thinking Conference) is hosting a conference in L.A. on November 27th through 29th at The Skirball Center.
For Ownership Thinking friends, there is a $1,000 discount available.
Simply use the following code when registering, and you will receive $1,000 off the regular ticket price: Tribal1000 (case sensitive).
Leadership Live in LA is for Rock Stars who are ready to make a change and a bigger difference in their organizations and their lives, and brings together the absolute best of what’s available in leadership from the past, present and future:
- The content and tools from Dave Logan’s bestselling books “The Three Laws of Performance” and “Tribal Leadership”
- The best of what’s being taught at USC’s Marshall School of Business Executive MBA Program
- Unseen content from Dave Logan’s newest book (coming out next year) that will include topics like iconic leadership, the dark side of leadership and provocative leadership
- Market-Disrupting Leadership Training and materials (we generally charge $60-$100K to deliver this training to our corporate clients)
- Unpublished research from journals and articles that is 3 years ahead of what is available in books, schools and training programs.
Best Practice Group #2
We are launching the second Ownership Thinking Best Practice Group on January 31st and February 1st.
Our first meeting will be hosted by Hudson’s Furniture in Orlando Florida.
Group #1 has been a tremendous success over the past three years, and I sincerely think it’s the best model of its type out there.
There will be twelve business owners in each group.
We meet three times a year, in a different city each time, and share best practices.
Members can bring one other person from their executive team with them.
We also read a business book before each meeting and have a discussion around it.
If you have an interest in learning more, contact Brad.
National Center for Employee Ownership
The NCEO is a great resource for all companies, even if you’re not an ESOP.
Brad is on the board of the NCEO, and we are strong advocates of the many services and resources they provide to members as the leading source of accurate, unbiased information on employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), equity compensation plans such as stock options, and ownership culture.
They are currently offering a free, six month membership to new members.
I encourage you to take advantage of this. To learn more, visit www.nceo.org, and let them know Ownership Thinking sent you!
Getting Started with Ownership Thinking Workshops
Our first (of three) Getting Started with OT Workshops will be held in Orlando, FL on February 12th, 2013.
If you have not yet implemented Ownership Thinking in your company and would like to learn more about the process, this is a great venue to do that.
Attendees should include CEO/Owner, President, and/or senior leadership team members.
We recommend that three people from each company attend.
Workshops are limited to 10 companies and a maximum of 3 people from the leadership team of each participating company.
The second GS workshop will be in St. Paul, MN on May 14th, 2013, and the final one for 2013 will be prior to our conference in Denver on October 15th, 2013.
For more information and to register, please click here.
Ownership Thinking Webinars
Our next webinar will be held on November 16th at 10am PST.
The topic is “Onboarding New Teammates and How to Help Them Accelerate into a Team of High Performers”.
Sebabi Leballo from one our best practice clients, will examine the onboarding techniques used by his company, HCSS, and discuss the pros and cons of specific elements of the process.
Are you bringing new employees into your company in a manner that will best help them succeed quickly?
Understanding your company culture, goals, and structure is an important part of their ability to be productive and supported by their fellow employees.
Click the link above to register and for more information.
Free for OT Club members and $50 for non-members.
The 2013 webinar line-up now is now posted on our website. We will update the summaries and speaker bios in the next few weeks.
Ownership Thinking Club
If you are not yet an Ownership Thinking Club member, consider joining!
The club offers myriad benefits at the minimal investment of $250 per company, per year.
One of its greatest benefits has been our webinar series (minimum 8/year), which are fascinating and delivered by some extraordinary people.
Members can attend webinars at no cost, and webinars are all recorded and archived on the OT Club home page to be heard at any time.
These are fantastic tools for “brown bag” employee training sessions.
Additionally, OT Club membership provides you with significant discounts for the annual conference as well as Getting Started workshops.
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Update on Brad's Book
"Ownership Thinking: How to End Entitlement and
Create a Culture of Accountability, Purpose, and Profit"
As we reported in the last OT newsletter, Brad’s book has been doing extraordinarily well.
Brad has committed to recording his audio book before the end of 2012.
We will send a note to you when it is available.
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Recommended Books
Wealth Warrior, by Steve Chandler. From book jacket: In this, his 33rd book, Chandler tells his own story of underachievement, alcoholism, bankruptcy and shame.
Then, in the encouraging spirit of “if I can do this anybody can,” he gives us the turnaround inspirations that converted him from wealth worrier to wealth warrior
The Greatest Business Decisions of All Time, by Verne Harnish and the Editors of Fortune Magazine. Review by Brad Hams: I love Verne's books. They are insightful and practical. Most important to me as a business owner with a lot on my plate, they are concise. The majority of business books out there are at least 50% fluff. You won't find that in Verne's books.
Make sure to also read his first book, Mastering the Rockefeller Habits.
What the (Bleep) Just Happened? The Happy Warrior’s Guide to the Great American Comeback, by Monica Crowley. Review by Larry Kudlow: “Can this nation be saved?
Monica Crowley answers with a resounding YES in this brilliant, hilarious page-turner that may well – in fact, should – influence the very future of America.”
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Quotes
"Ink it when you think it.” - Sam Horn, Vistage speaker, on the importance of capturing ideas as they occur in this age of constant distraction and interruption.
"Clarity creates confidence. Confusion creates chaos" - Greg Bustin, speaker at the 2012 Ownership Thinking conference.
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy; its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." - Winston Churchill
"In the light of Truth, there are no secular activities. An understanding joy in living is the highest prayer of all." - Emmet Fox
"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain." - From Dune, by Frank Herbert
"The essence of O.C. Tanner Company's work is putting a drop of oil on the bearings of the free enterprise system." - Obert Tanner
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Social Media
Join the LinkedIn OT Group by clicking here.
Follow Brad Hams and Alex Freytag on Twitter!
@BradHamsOT
@alexfreytag
Like us on Facebook
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