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The CEO role is the most visible position in the organization, and it comes with great responsibility. That means that many people feel unqualified when they first take it on. How do you handle that level of responsibility without long experience? Is it possible to “fake it until you make it”? Sponsored by: Texas Mutual … Continue reading Episode 54: Fake It Until You Make It in the CEO Role? →

A successful sale or acquisition requires a support network — the experts and allies who play key roles in the process. And it’s more than just a banker. Joel walks through the professionals and advisors he recommends enlisting before you go through the high-pressure ordeal of an exit transaction. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

With Trump’s tax payments in the news, Joel Trammell looks at some of the intricacies of when and how businesses pay taxes, clarifying some of the common misconceptions. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Buying or selling a house is one of the most complicated transactions many of us have gone through — but acquiring or selling a business is another step up in terms of complexity and time. In this episode, Joel walks you through the timeline of transactions he’s been through, including what happened at each stage. … Continue reading Episode 51: Exit Planning, Part 2: Anatomy of a Deal →

Whole tomes have been written on “change management” in the corporate sphere. While changing how humans think and behave is difficult, the process starts with the CEO addressing some basic questions for the organization. This week, Joel discusses what those questions are and why they form the necessary foundation of lasting collective change. Sponsored by: … Continue reading Episode 49: The Tricky Art of Change Management →

“Vulnerability” has been a buzzword for years, but should the CEO care? When should the CEO disclose their emotions, fears, struggles to people in the organization? And what’s the line between being vulnerable and sharing too much? Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Every business sells a product (or service) into a market. Thus arise three vital groups that form a triangle inside a business: sales, product, and marketing. As each of these divisions operates, natural tensions arise. Guess whose job it is to manage them? That’s right — the CEO. This week, Joel talks about how to … Continue reading Episode 47: The Internal Triangle of Tension →

Human brains are naturally drawn to stories as a primary way of understanding the world around us — and the role we play in it. This week, Joel discusses why CEOs should care about the art of storytelling and how they can use it to manage and lead more effectively. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance … Continue reading Episode 46: The CEO as Chief Storyteller →

How motivated are the employees in your organization? One of the most fundamental mistakes managers make at any level —including the CEO — is misunderstanding how natural human motivation works. In this episode, Joel Trammell discusses the breakthrough theory that reveals how an organization can build authentic motivation across the workforce. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual … Continue reading Episode 45: The Motivation Equation →

When you’re in startup mode, every employee of your company is usually doing hands-on work. But as a company scales up, professional managers are required to coordinate, facilitate, coach, and much more. This week, we pick Joel’s brain about the stage of a business’s growth where professional managers become a necessity. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual … Continue reading Episode 44: Do You Need Full-Time Managers at Your Company? →