The accidental IT guy

Bill Wosilius told the CEO.com Podcast that his five years as chief executive of NexusTek had been "nothing but bliss." Two weeks after the episode was released, he announced on LinkedIn that he was stepping down. He did not give a reason. Neither did the company. In April 2024, NexusTek named Hamilton Yu as his replacement, and a partner at Abry Partners, the company's private equity sponsor, thanked Wosilius for five years of contributions. He stayed on the board.

The conversation below was recorded while he still had the job.

Wosilius went to the Air Force Academy because of Top Gun. He chose the Air Force over the Navy because he did not want to spend a career on a boat. He graduated in the early 1990s, owed the Air Force a service commitment, and stayed nearly eight years as an aircraft maintenance officer on F-15s and F-22s, including a deployment to Bosnia between the first Gulf War and 9/11.

When he got out, two classmates from the Academy had started a data center company in Denver called Inflow, and they hired him.

"I joke about this. I'm an accidental IT guy, because of that experience," he said. "I thought a router back then took the edge off a piece of wood, and that's true, but that wasn't the kind that we dealt with. So I had to learn IT on the fly."

He stayed in it for 25 years. At Accuvant, a Denver cybersecurity firm, he worked with Blackstone on the deal that combined it with FishNet Security to create Optiv, which NexusTek's 2019 announcement of his hiring described as the largest private equity transaction in cybersecurity at the time. He then ran Optiv's technology services line, which served more than 5,000 clients. In 2019, a private equity sponsor he had worked with called about a managed IT company in Denver that needed a CEO. He had run business units that size before but had never held the title.

NexusTek, in the explanation he gives his family, is the IT department. A business has a problem with its technology, someone picks up the phone and calls the IT people, and NexusTek is the IT people. Its 1,200 customers are companies too small to keep meaningful expertise in-house, from 50 or 60 employees up to a couple thousand. Wosilius said he spent 80 percent of his own time outside the company, with investors and with the owners of businesses NexusTek might buy. It bought eight in his tenure.

The pandemic hit those customers all at once.

"Three years ago when we had a little pandemic, and everybody moved from their corporate office behind the firewall in a controlled environment and moved into their spare bedrooms and started working from home, it increased the attack surface by a factor of a thousand," he said.

The first six months of 2020 went to getting customers set up with Teams and VPNs and whatever else let people work securely from home. Many of those people had never worked anywhere but an office. Wosilius does not expect them to go back to one. He said companies that have forced a return have been met with revolt, that NexusTek discussed the question briefly and dropped it, and that remote work let the company hire nationally instead of within commuting distance of an office.

He is, in his own words, a leadership Kool-Aid drinker. He believes a CEO has two jobs, mitigating risk and developing the culture, and that the second one is harder to do remotely.

When he arrived, NexusTek's culture was technical. It valued how smart the engineers were. He rebuilt the mission, vision, and values around what he calls passionate customer service, then spent five years repeating it. All 350 employees join a monthly all-hands call. The company gives a $100 Amazon gift card to whoever best exhibited the core values that month. People who do not share the values do not stay.

"It has to bleed from your skin," he said. "The employees of the business know when your culture or your mission, vision, values are lip service. They know. They just do."

Some of what held the company together during lockdown was less formal. NexusTek has a group of employees who play music, and at the height of the pandemic they wanted to do a project. Each of them recorded a part at home: drums, guitar, vocals, and the company's content editor cut the pieces into a video. The first song was "Hotel California." The second was a Backstreet Boys song. Wosilius had a cameo.

The program he talks about most is the NexusTek Leadership Academy. He designed it himself. Around 25 frontline and high-potential managers meet a couple of hours a month for an executive-MBA-style curriculum that runs from how to read a financial statement to how an acquisition gets done. He said he built it from a list of things he wished someone had told him 25 years earlier, so he wouldn't have skinned his knees so often.

"Companies invest all the time in technical training and sending people to sales training, sales methodology training and those sorts of things," he said, "but our leaders get ignored, and it's like any other skill. You have to practice it."

He also gives speeches to other organizations built around eight lessons he calls his leadership odyssey. The best job you ever had is the one you have right now. Three things are certain: death, taxes, and people will quit. If you hang around five successful people, you will be the sixth. Don't be the sixth idiot. Find a mentor. His is John Kelley, former CEO of McData, who Wosilius said makes everyone he talks to feel important and is also a realist. He brought up the Stockdale Paradox, Admiral James Stockdale's observation from a North Vietnamese prison that the optimists who expected to be home by Christmas broke, the pessimists broke, and the ones who survived were honest about where they were and certain they would get out.

"You can be a great cheerleader to your people and be super empathetic, but if you're not real and you're not painting the picture, the reality of what they're facing, you're setting people up for failure," he said.

He protects his calendar a week out and tries to block one afternoon a week to read and think, working on the business rather than in it. Asked about the economy heading into 2024, he said anyone who claims to know what is coming is lying, and then asked how that was for a vague answer.

Every conversation on the CEO.com Podcast ends with the same question. The chances one gives are as important as the chances one takes. Who gave you one?

Wosilius named Kip Turco, the Abry Partners partner who called him in 2019.

"Even though I had done CEO-like roles, run large business units for other larger companies, I hadn't punched the ticket yet, and he gave me my first shot," he said. "He knew that I had what it took, even though I hadn't had that shot before. And what's the saying, luck is when preparation meets opportunity. I had done the prep work, and he gave me the opportunity."

His LinkedIn post announcing his departure said the company he was leaving had 1,200 customers and 330 employees, that he needed a break, and that he was not done. According to the bio at Latitude 40 Leadership, the leadership firm he co-founded afterward with his wife, Courtney, his tenure included eight acquisitions and a 2023 recapitalization. He told ENX Magazine in January 2025 that he made a futile attempt at retirement and did not do a very good job of it. He is now president of DEXTEK, a managed IT and cybersecurity division that DEX Imaging, the office equipment dealer, launched in Cleveland in January 2025 and expanded to Orlando the same month. DEX has 86,000 customers. He said he took the job because he is old enough not to have to work for people he does not like, and he liked the Doyles, Dan Sr. and Dan Jr., who founded the company.

00:00:00 Bill's Military Background and Air Force Career
00:01:38 Journey to Becoming CEO of NexusTek
00:03:11 What NexusTek Does
00:04:00 Cybersecurity Risks and the Pandemic Shift
00:07:03 Hybrid Work as the New Normal
00:08:10 Leading Through the Return-to-Office Debate
00:10:33 A Typical Day as CEO
00:11:29 Self-Leadership and the NexusTek Leadership Academy
00:14:10 Rebuilding NexusTek's Culture
00:16:54 Deciding Where to Focus Time and Energy
00:18:43 Mentors and Admired Leaders
00:20:01 Empathy and the Stockdale Paradox
00:21:33 CEOs Weighing In on Macro Issues and 2024 Outlook
00:23:48 The Chance That Led to Becoming CEO

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Bill,<00:00:10.130> thank<00:00:10.371> you<00:00:10.403> so<00:00:10.564> much<00:00:10.933> for<00:00:11.029> coming<00:00:11.270> on<00:00:11.350> the<00:00:11.447> show.

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Yeah.

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This<00:02:04.953> is<00:02:05.115> back<00:02:05.373> in<00:02:05.503> the<00:02:05.584> late<00:02:05.826> 1990s.

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And<00:03:27.472> all<00:03:27.568> we<00:03:27.793> are<00:03:28.131> is<00:03:28.291> an<00:03:28.436> IT<00:03:28.838> outsourcing<00:03:29.432> organization.

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We<00:03:30.300> do<00:03:31.666> managed<00:03:32.052> IT<00:03:32.550> and<00:03:32.840> cybersecurity<00:03:33.525> services<00:03:34.243> for<00:03:34.586> businesses<00:03:35.386> that<00:03:35.549> are<00:03:36.405> really<00:03:36.712> kind<00:03:36.874> of<00:03:36.954> too<00:03:37.132> small<00:03:37.552> to<00:03:37.681> have<00:03:38.326> any<00:03:39.311> meaningful<00:03:39.941> IT<00:03:40.667> expertise<00:03:41.248> in-house.

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So<00:03:42.459> that's<00:03:43.589> the<00:03:43.815> easiest<00:03:44.380> answer<00:03:44.784> to<00:03:45.042> it.

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We've<00:03:46.155> got<00:03:47.203> about<00:03:47.607> 1,200<00:03:48.171> businesses<00:03:48.913> nationwide<00:03:49.800> that<00:03:49.962> are<00:03:50.123> customers<00:03:52.930> ranging<00:03:53.511> from,<00:03:54.220> you<00:03:54.317> know,<00:03:54.478> kind<00:03:54.640> of<00:03:54.704> on<00:03:54.850> the<00:03:54.930> high<00:03:55.123> end,<00:03:55.299> a<00:03:55.364> couple<00:03:55.605> thousand<00:03:56.071> employees<00:03:56.649> all<00:03:56.729> the<00:03:56.826> way<00:03:57.051> down<00:03:57.276> on<00:03:57.533> the<00:03:57.613> low<00:03:57.854> end<00:03:58.159> to<00:03:58.432> 50<00:03:58.738> or<00:03:58.882> 60.

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How<00:04:02.031> concerning<00:04:02.690> is<00:04:02.835> cybersecurity<00:04:03.702> right<00:04:03.959> now<00:04:05.765> I<00:04:05.781> mean,<00:04:05.925> has<00:04:06.086> it<00:04:06.150> ever<00:04:06.311> been<00:04:06.632> worse?

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Probably<00:04:07.531> not,<00:04:07.997> but<00:04:08.237> I<00:04:08.302> would<00:04:08.575> love<00:04:08.735> to<00:04:08.815> hear<00:04:09.377> your<00:04:09.602> thoughts<00:04:09.923> there.

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And<00:04:10.742> like<00:04:11.288> with<00:04:11.689> AI,<00:04:12.669> how<00:04:12.925> is<00:04:13.086> that<00:04:13.311> changing<00:04:13.808> cybersecurity?

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Yeah,<00:04:16.843> you<00:04:16.939> know,<00:04:17.662> everybody<00:04:18.111> asks<00:04:18.448> that<00:04:18.753> question,<00:04:19.588> you<00:04:19.668> know,<00:04:20.214> and<00:04:20.375> cybersecurity<00:04:21.242> is<00:04:21.418> the<00:04:21.499> boogeyman<00:04:22.221> these<00:04:22.462> days.

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I<00:04:23.104> tell<00:04:23.345> you,<00:04:24.228> 3<00:04:24.469> years<00:04:24.790> ago<00:04:25.256> when<00:04:26.620> we<00:04:26.701> had<00:04:26.813> a<00:04:26.829> little<00:04:27.182> pandemic<00:04:27.857> and<00:04:27.921> everybody<00:04:28.322> moved<00:04:28.723> from<00:04:30.168> their<00:04:30.409> corporate<00:04:31.035> office<00:04:31.453> behind<00:04:31.854> the<00:04:31.999> firewall<00:04:32.801> in<00:04:32.962> the,<00:04:33.524> you<00:04:33.556> know,<00:04:34.022> in<00:04:34.102> a<00:04:34.182> controlled<00:04:34.648> environment<00:04:35.306> and<00:04:35.386> moved<00:04:35.691> into<00:04:35.867> their<00:04:36.028> spare<00:04:36.333> bedrooms<00:04:37.938> and,<00:04:38.259> uh,<00:04:39.157> and<00:04:39.254> started<00:04:39.559> working<00:04:39.864> from<00:04:39.960> home,<00:04:40.281> it<00:04:40.361> increased<00:04:41.404> the<00:04:41.484> attack<00:04:41.886> surface<00:04:42.367> by<00:04:42.463> a<00:04:42.608> factor<00:04:42.704> of<00:04:42.849> 1,000.

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So,<00:04:44.052> you<00:04:44.133> know<00:04:44.357> what?

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I<00:04:44.550> never<00:04:44.662> even<00:04:45.015> thought<00:04:45.192> about<00:04:45.417> that.

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That<00:04:46.620> is<00:04:46.717> so<00:04:46.941> fascinating.

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Like,<00:04:48.530> yeah.

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Cause<00:04:49.413> all<00:04:49.573> of<00:04:49.670> the<00:04:49.814> offices,<00:04:50.616> they<00:04:50.777> have<00:04:51.740> great<00:04:52.639> cybersecurity<00:04:53.602> and<00:04:53.746> you<00:04:53.907> take<00:04:54.163> it<00:04:54.484> to<00:04:54.629> your<00:04:54.789> home<00:04:55.046> Wi-Fi.

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And<00:04:56.731> well,<00:04:56.908> yeah,<00:04:58.737> maybe<00:04:58.978> they<00:04:59.139> do,<00:04:59.379> they<00:04:59.460> do,<00:04:59.700> or<00:04:59.781> they<00:04:59.941> don't,<00:05:00.182> but<00:05:00.342> at<00:05:00.423> least<00:05:00.663> it's<00:05:00.824> probably<00:05:01.145> better<00:05:01.385> than<00:05:01.610> the<00:05:02.268> home<00:05:02.509> Wi-Fi.

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And<00:05:04.489> wow,<00:05:04.835> that's<00:05:05.081> incredible.

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So,<00:05:05.755> how<00:05:05.968> bad<00:05:06.297> did<00:05:06.412> it<00:05:06.559> get?

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Yeah,<00:05:08.504> you<00:05:08.604> know,<00:05:08.754> it's<00:05:08.922> interesting.

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You<00:05:10.684> know,<00:05:10.894> the<00:05:11.039> first,<00:05:11.539> call<00:05:11.765> it<00:05:11.861> 6<00:05:12.410> months,<00:05:12.910> maybe<00:05:13.393> call<00:05:13.635> it<00:05:14.280> middle<00:05:14.603> of<00:05:14.764> 2020,<00:05:16.538> a<00:05:16.620> lot<00:05:16.799> of<00:05:16.864> companies<00:05:17.287> were<00:05:17.385> scrambling<00:05:18.507> to<00:05:18.995> enable<00:05:19.402> their<00:05:19.565> people<00:05:19.972> to<00:05:20.134> work<00:05:20.444> remotely.

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And<00:05:23.464> that<00:05:23.705> required<00:05:24.446> implementing<00:05:24.849> some<00:05:25.010> technology<00:05:25.815> that,<00:05:26.282> you<00:05:26.314> know,<00:05:27.328> tried<00:05:27.521> to<00:05:27.586> plug<00:05:27.892> those<00:05:28.069> holes<00:05:28.471> and<00:05:28.568> enable<00:05:28.938> people<00:05:29.196> to<00:05:29.277> be<00:05:29.422> productive.

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And<00:05:31.173> so,<00:05:31.651> for<00:05:31.899> us,<00:05:33.229> it<00:05:33.326> really<00:05:33.648> created<00:05:36.050> a<00:05:36.067> lot<00:05:36.389> of<00:05:36.615> work<00:05:37.598> to<00:05:37.759> get<00:05:38.001> those<00:05:38.307> customers<00:05:38.743> kind<00:05:38.872> of<00:05:38.968> caught<00:05:39.355> up.

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We<00:05:39.758> were,<00:05:39.936> you<00:05:40.242> know,<00:05:40.419> we're<00:05:40.710> an<00:05:40.823> IT-centric<00:05:42.280> business.

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So<00:05:44.546> we<00:05:44.708> were<00:05:44.934> used<00:05:45.193> to<00:05:45.339> being<00:05:45.598> able<00:05:46.165> to<00:05:46.310> work<00:05:46.488> from<00:05:46.650> anywhere<00:05:47.541> and<00:05:47.703> being<00:05:47.897> mobile.

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But<00:05:49.658> our<00:05:49.802> customers,<00:05:50.590> you<00:05:50.686> know,<00:05:50.847> it<00:05:50.992> was<00:05:51.651> implementing<00:05:52.117> Microsoft<00:05:52.680> Teams<00:05:53.419> and<00:05:54.046> VPNs<00:05:54.946> and,<00:05:55.412> you<00:05:55.444> know,<00:05:55.734> all<00:05:55.830> kinds<00:05:56.312> of<00:05:56.939> technology,<00:05:57.582> not<00:05:57.759> only<00:05:58.064> to<00:05:58.810> secure<00:05:59.485> where<00:05:59.710> they<00:05:59.871> were<00:06:00.032> working<00:06:00.370> from,<00:06:00.611> but<00:06:00.772> really<00:06:01.013> to<00:06:01.399> allow<00:06:01.576> them<00:06:01.737> to<00:06:01.817> be<00:06:01.978> productive.

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You<00:06:02.621> know,<00:06:02.782> many<00:06:03.104> businesses,<00:06:04.616> they<00:06:04.793> hadn't,<00:06:05.420> um,<00:06:05.903> you<00:06:05.983> know,<00:06:06.079> those<00:06:06.305> people<00:06:06.578> hadn't<00:06:06.803> worked<00:06:07.028> anywhere<00:06:07.350> other<00:06:07.607> than<00:06:07.688> the<00:06:07.913> office.

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Yeah,<00:06:10.590> that,<00:06:11.155> that<00:06:11.381> is<00:06:11.721> fast.

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It's<00:06:12.206> fascinating.

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I've<00:06:12.723> never<00:06:12.868> even<00:06:13.094> thought<00:06:13.256> about<00:06:13.433> that<00:06:13.563> until<00:06:13.821> now,<00:06:14.209> like<00:06:14.387> what,<00:06:14.694> what<00:06:14.872> that<00:06:15.033> did<00:06:15.195> to<00:06:15.276> cybersecurity.

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And<00:06:17.231> has<00:06:17.425> it<00:06:17.506> gotten<00:06:17.748> better<00:06:17.990> now<00:06:18.217> that<00:06:18.313> people<00:06:18.540> are<00:06:18.637> coming<00:06:18.879> back,<00:06:19.283> or<00:06:19.364> is<00:06:19.460> it<00:06:19.606> still<00:06:20.397> a<00:06:20.640> kind<00:06:20.801> of<00:06:20.898> a<00:06:20.979> hybrid<00:06:21.448> thing,<00:06:21.787> or—.

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I,<00:06:23.241> I<00:06:23.402> think<00:06:23.628> it's<00:06:23.790> still<00:06:24.032> hybrid.

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I<00:06:24.452> think,<00:06:25.002> um,<00:06:25.486> depending<00:06:25.842> on<00:06:25.890> what<00:06:26.068> industry<00:06:27.056> you're<00:06:27.474> in,<00:06:27.891> it<00:06:28.100> may<00:06:28.276> be<00:06:28.517> less<00:06:28.919> hybrid<00:06:30.589> than<00:06:30.829> others.

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But<00:06:31.793> I<00:06:31.889> would<00:06:32.034> say,<00:06:33.398> you<00:06:33.431> know,<00:06:33.591> for<00:06:33.800> the<00:06:33.960> tech-enabled<00:06:34.619> business<00:06:35.406> where,<00:06:36.449> you<00:06:36.626> know,<00:06:37.252> unlike<00:06:37.670> manufacturing,<00:06:38.456> right,<00:06:38.617> you<00:06:38.697> have<00:06:38.938> to<00:06:39.018> go<00:06:39.195> in<00:06:39.580> because<00:06:39.821> you<00:06:40.142> have<00:06:40.399> to<00:06:40.704> create<00:06:41.138> something<00:06:42.551> on<00:06:42.872> a<00:06:42.952> production<00:06:43.354> line.

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But<00:06:43.691> if<00:06:43.835> you're<00:06:44.349> sort<00:06:44.558> of<00:06:44.654> tech-enabled<00:06:45.377> and<00:06:45.521> you<00:06:45.682> can<00:06:45.858> go<00:06:46.260> anywhere,<00:06:47.320> I<00:06:47.448> think<00:06:47.769> we're<00:06:48.251> pretty<00:06:49.792> stable<00:06:50.258> where<00:06:50.435> we're<00:06:50.579> at.

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We<00:06:50.980> have<00:06:51.157> customers<00:06:51.783> that<00:06:51.880> are<00:06:52.747> you<00:06:52.779> know,<00:06:52.924> still<00:06:53.229> fully<00:06:54.193> remote<00:06:54.916> and<00:06:55.398> we<00:06:55.639> are,<00:06:56.281> you<00:06:56.394> know,<00:06:56.522> as<00:06:56.683> well,<00:06:57.165> we<00:06:57.261> go<00:06:57.502> in<00:06:57.743> the<00:06:57.888> office<00:06:58.209> when<00:06:58.370> we<00:06:58.402> need<00:06:58.707> to,<00:06:59.028> but,<00:06:59.816> you<00:06:59.976> know,<00:07:00.137> for<00:07:00.233> the<00:07:00.314> most<00:07:00.555> part<00:07:00.860> we<00:07:00.908> can<00:07:00.956> do<00:07:01.101> what<00:07:01.277> we<00:07:01.374> need<00:07:01.583> to<00:07:01.663> do<00:07:01.840> anywhere,<00:07:02.868> anytime.

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So<00:07:04.410> I<00:07:04.571> think<00:07:05.358> personally,<00:07:06.242> you<00:07:06.338> know,<00:07:07.623> that<00:07:07.944> kind<00:07:08.121> of<00:07:08.201> a<00:07:08.266> hybrid<00:07:08.587> work<00:07:08.812> environment<00:07:09.310> is<00:07:09.471> here<00:07:09.631> to<00:07:09.712> stay.

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I<00:07:10.852> think<00:07:11.077> people<00:07:11.431> like<00:07:11.720> the<00:07:11.864> flexibility.

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They've,<00:07:12.925> they've<00:07:13.150> gotten<00:07:13.953> out<00:07:14.065> of<00:07:14.290> the,<00:07:15.238> what<00:07:15.318> I<00:07:15.415> call<00:07:15.591> the<00:07:15.720> high-speed<00:07:16.218> wobble<00:07:17.005> of,<00:07:17.423> of<00:07:17.583> working<00:07:17.969> remotely.

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They've<00:07:18.644> managed<00:07:19.174> the,<00:07:19.912> the<00:07:20.393> work<00:07:20.730> distract<00:07:21.211> or<00:07:21.291> the<00:07:21.420> home<00:07:21.660> distractions.

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And<00:07:24.306> I<00:07:24.466> think<00:07:24.642> it's<00:07:25.348> here<00:07:25.444> to<00:07:25.540> stay<00:07:26.230> really.

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I<00:07:26.647> think<00:07:26.887> there's,<00:07:28.395> you<00:07:28.427> know,<00:07:28.571> businesses<00:07:29.132> have<00:07:29.357> tried<00:07:29.934> to<00:07:30.078> force<00:07:30.495> their<00:07:30.655> employees<00:07:31.056> to<00:07:31.201> come<00:07:31.297> back<00:07:31.553> to<00:07:31.633> the<00:07:31.858> office<00:07:32.179> and<00:07:32.339> it's<00:07:32.563> met<00:07:32.804> with<00:07:33.045> revolt.

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And<00:07:34.247> frankly,<00:07:35.610> we<00:07:35.867> talked<00:07:36.251> about<00:07:36.572> it<00:07:38.496> for<00:07:38.657> a<00:07:38.737> very<00:07:38.913> short<00:07:39.234> period<00:07:39.490> of<00:07:39.555> time<00:07:39.971> and<00:07:40.116> we<00:07:40.196> left<00:07:40.436> it<00:07:40.517> alone,<00:07:40.998> right?

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It's<00:07:41.863> actually<00:07:42.200> been<00:07:42.441> a<00:07:42.601> blessing<00:07:43.082> for<00:07:43.242> us<00:07:43.403> because<00:07:43.804> now<00:07:44.766> we<00:07:44.926> can<00:07:45.086> recruit<00:07:45.712> more<00:07:46.594> nationally.

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In<00:07:47.876> places<00:07:48.357> where<00:07:48.453> we<00:07:48.533> didn't<00:07:48.773> have<00:07:48.998> offices<00:07:49.590> and,<00:07:49.895> and<00:07:50.439> we're<00:07:50.536> able<00:07:50.696> to<00:07:50.776> find<00:07:51.016> the<00:07:51.096> best<00:07:51.337> level<00:07:51.577> of<00:07:51.721> talent<00:07:52.362> regardless<00:07:52.779> of<00:07:52.843> where<00:07:52.939> they<00:07:53.163> live.

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If<00:07:55.022> forcing<00:07:55.422> people<00:07:55.662> to<00:07:55.743> come<00:07:55.919> into<00:07:56.143> an<00:07:56.287> office,<00:07:56.704> not<00:07:56.928> only<00:07:57.088> gonna<00:07:57.201> make<00:07:57.425> 'em<00:07:57.569> cranky<00:07:57.986> 'cause<00:07:58.130> they<00:07:58.210> have<00:07:58.386> to<00:07:58.466> sit<00:07:58.787> in<00:07:58.867> traffic<00:07:59.347> for<00:07:59.428> a<00:07:59.572> couple<00:07:59.812> hours,<00:08:00.229> but<00:08:01.446> maybe<00:08:01.751> you<00:08:01.895> can't<00:08:02.311> get<00:08:02.712> the,<00:08:03.032> the<00:08:03.193> people<00:08:04.394> that,<00:08:04.715> that<00:08:04.859> have<00:08:05.099> the<00:08:05.179> skill<00:08:05.420> sets<00:08:05.740> that<00:08:05.900> you<00:08:06.141> want<00:08:06.541> in<00:08:06.637> the,<00:08:07.038> in<00:08:07.182> the<00:08:07.278> location<00:08:07.679> that<00:08:07.839> you<00:08:07.983> want.

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So<00:08:08.944> it's<00:08:09.056> a<00:08:09.120> good<00:08:09.281> thing<00:08:09.505> for<00:08:09.601> us.

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What<00:08:10.851> did<00:08:11.027> you<00:08:11.508> learn<00:08:11.988> like<00:08:12.629> as<00:08:12.789> a<00:08:12.950> leader<00:08:13.430> and<00:08:13.607> from<00:08:13.783> a<00:08:13.911> leadership<00:08:14.311> perspective<00:08:14.968> going<00:08:15.289> through<00:08:15.449> that<00:08:15.689> process<00:08:16.715> of<00:08:17.693> you<00:08:17.789> know,<00:08:17.934> hey,<00:08:18.094> pandemic's<00:08:18.881> over,<00:08:20.165> uh,<00:08:20.904> should<00:08:21.129> we<00:08:21.289> all<00:08:21.386> come<00:08:21.626> back<00:08:21.883> to<00:08:22.012> the<00:08:22.172> office?

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Like,<00:08:23.136> and<00:08:23.232> then<00:08:23.473> that<00:08:23.633> whole<00:08:23.778> part<00:08:23.938> you<00:08:23.970> said,<00:08:24.195> like,<00:08:24.420> you<00:08:24.516> talked<00:08:24.821> about,<00:08:24.982> I<00:08:25.143> wonder,<00:08:25.399> like,<00:08:26.186> um,<00:08:26.828> how<00:08:26.989> you<00:08:27.246> led<00:08:27.487> through<00:08:27.663> that<00:08:28.273> and,<00:08:28.835> um,<00:08:29.092> maybe<00:08:29.317> what<00:08:29.478> you<00:08:29.638> learned<00:08:29.959> during<00:08:30.200> that<00:08:30.296> experience.

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Yeah,<00:08:32.705> I<00:08:32.849> mean,<00:08:33.106> anybody<00:08:33.524> that<00:08:33.684> says<00:08:34.134> that,<00:08:34.310> that<00:08:34.696> they<00:08:34.872> knew<00:08:35.033> what<00:08:35.193> they<00:08:35.274> were<00:08:35.434> doing<00:08:35.996> in<00:08:36.076> that<00:08:36.478> period<00:08:36.895> is,<00:08:37.200> is<00:08:37.425> lying<00:08:37.907> to<00:08:38.003> you<00:08:38.164> because<00:08:38.469> none<00:08:38.581> of<00:08:38.709> us<00:08:38.790> had<00:08:38.902> ever<00:08:39.127> lived<00:08:39.352> through<00:08:39.512> any<00:08:39.689> of<00:08:39.753> that<00:08:39.930> before.

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Um,<00:08:42.258> but,<00:08:42.739> uh,<00:08:43.770> I<00:08:43.867> tell<00:08:44.109> you,<00:08:44.271> we<00:08:44.432> kept<00:08:44.755> a<00:08:44.820> focus<00:08:45.709> on<00:08:47.341> culture<00:08:48.052> and<00:08:48.214> really<00:08:48.472> creating<00:08:49.119> a<00:08:49.264> culture<00:08:49.991> of<00:08:50.718> open,<00:08:50.977> transparent<00:08:51.462> communication,<00:08:53.775> telling<00:08:54.033> people<00:08:54.274> what<00:08:54.418> was<00:08:54.579> going<00:08:54.820> on.

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I<00:08:55.302> think,<00:08:55.864> you<00:08:55.945> know,<00:08:56.346> one<00:08:56.507> of<00:08:56.539> the<00:08:56.684> things<00:08:56.925> we<00:08:57.150> learned<00:08:57.487> was<00:08:58.371> people<00:08:58.757> were<00:08:59.415> woefully<00:08:59.962> unprepared<00:09:00.830> to,<00:09:02.056> you<00:09:02.137> know,<00:09:02.233> hold<00:09:02.475> themselves<00:09:02.960> accountable<00:09:03.605> to<00:09:03.847> working,<00:09:05.203> you<00:09:06.106> know,<00:09:06.268> the<00:09:06.332> same<00:09:06.590> way<00:09:06.687> they<00:09:06.832> would<00:09:06.994> in<00:09:07.139> an<00:09:07.220> office<00:09:07.720> from<00:09:08.285> their<00:09:08.462> spare<00:09:08.833> bedroom.

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And<00:09:09.737> so,<00:09:10.757> A<00:09:11.178> lot<00:09:11.356> of<00:09:11.421> people,<00:09:12.215> you<00:09:12.247> know,<00:09:12.474> the<00:09:12.620> line<00:09:12.798> got<00:09:13.025> blurry<00:09:13.430> between,<00:09:14.353> you<00:09:14.434> know,<00:09:15.714> work<00:09:15.941> time<00:09:16.265> and<00:09:16.362> play<00:09:16.524> time.

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And<00:09:17.658> we<00:09:17.723> had<00:09:17.852> to<00:09:17.966> work<00:09:18.128> through<00:09:18.306> some<00:09:18.565> of<00:09:18.630> that<00:09:18.873> stuff.

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But<00:09:19.844> I<00:09:19.989> think<00:09:20.247> the<00:09:21.038> key<00:09:21.441> was<00:09:22.006> creating<00:09:22.571> an<00:09:22.893> environment<00:09:23.313> where<00:09:23.474> people<00:09:24.507> felt<00:09:24.845> connected.

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They<00:09:26.443> knew<00:09:26.604> what<00:09:26.765> was<00:09:26.927> going<00:09:27.250> on.

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They<00:09:27.669> didn't<00:09:27.911> feel<00:09:28.056> like<00:09:28.218> they<00:09:28.314> were<00:09:28.460> out<00:09:28.492> on<00:09:28.637> an<00:09:28.782> island.

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And,<00:09:32.242> you<00:09:32.340> know,<00:09:33.612> we<00:09:33.645> had<00:09:34.199> a<00:09:34.264> really<00:09:34.590> fun<00:09:35.177> thing<00:09:35.422> that<00:09:35.585> we<00:09:35.748> did.

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We<00:09:36.156> had<00:09:36.384> a<00:09:37.364> a<00:09:37.428> house<00:09:37.846> band.

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So<00:09:38.809> we<00:09:38.858> had<00:09:38.970> a<00:09:39.050> group<00:09:39.516> of<00:09:39.677> employees,<00:09:40.094> we<00:09:40.175> have<00:09:40.271> about<00:09:40.560> 350<00:09:41.154> employees<00:09:41.716> or<00:09:41.797> so.

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And<00:09:43.852> we<00:09:43.949> have<00:09:44.045> a<00:09:44.174> group<00:09:44.366> of<00:09:44.431> people<00:09:44.768> that<00:09:44.880> are<00:09:44.977> just<00:09:45.218> really<00:09:45.474> musically<00:09:45.956> inclined.

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And<00:09:48.430> during<00:09:48.670> the<00:09:49.393> height<00:09:49.650> of<00:09:49.730> the<00:09:49.875> pandemic,<00:09:50.598> they<00:09:50.758> wanted<00:09:50.999> to<00:09:51.176> do<00:09:52.284> a,<00:09:52.686> you<00:09:52.782> know,<00:09:53.344> a<00:09:53.424> music<00:09:53.826> project.

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And<00:09:54.468> so<00:09:54.629> they<00:09:54.934> all<00:09:55.833> filmed<00:09:56.460> individual<00:09:57.118> components,<00:09:57.745> drums,<00:09:58.162> guitar,<00:09:58.724> vocals,<00:09:59.383> et<00:09:59.527> cetera.

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And,<00:10:00.571> you<00:10:01.149> know,<00:10:01.278> they<00:10:01.454> did<00:10:01.936> a<00:10:02.017> couple<00:10:02.322> of<00:10:02.482> covers.

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They<00:10:03.863> did<00:10:04.104> the<00:10:04.265> Eagles<00:10:04.570> Hotel<00:10:04.907> California.

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We<00:10:07.476> did<00:10:08.278> a<00:10:08.342> fun<00:10:08.583> one<00:10:08.743> that<00:10:08.903> I<00:10:08.984> had<00:10:09.064> a<00:10:09.080> little<00:10:09.401> cameo<00:10:10.107> in,<00:10:10.363> was<00:10:10.540> a<00:10:11.085> Backstreet<00:10:13.091> Boys<00:10:13.331> song.

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And<00:10:15.257> so<00:10:15.577> everybody<00:10:16.219> kind<00:10:16.396> of<00:10:16.460> sent<00:10:16.845> in<00:10:17.005> their<00:10:17.166> individual<00:10:17.663> components<00:10:18.529> and<00:10:19.027> we<00:10:19.171> had<00:10:19.284> a<00:10:19.348> video<00:10:19.733> editor<00:10:20.070> on<00:10:20.150> our<00:10:20.310> staff,<00:10:20.535> our<00:10:20.856> content<00:10:21.353> guy,<00:10:22.941> and<00:10:23.102> put<00:10:23.262> together<00:10:24.161> a<00:10:24.241> pretty<00:10:24.546> cool<00:10:24.802> little<00:10:25.027> music<00:10:26.006> video<00:10:26.647> of<00:10:26.824> a<00:10:27.129> cover<00:10:27.450> of<00:10:27.594> a<00:10:27.626> song.

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So<00:10:28.236> it<00:10:28.348> kept<00:10:28.492> people,<00:10:29.038> you<00:10:29.070> know,<00:10:29.279> connected<00:10:29.696> to<00:10:29.776> their<00:10:29.936> coworkers<00:10:30.594> even<00:10:30.803> though<00:10:30.899> they<00:10:31.043> weren't<00:10:31.284> sitting<00:10:31.525> right<00:10:31.830> next<00:10:32.008> to<00:10:32.106> each<00:10:32.349> other.

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It<00:10:32.593> was<00:10:32.820> cool.

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What<00:10:34.006> does<00:10:34.217> a<00:10:34.282> typical<00:10:34.688> day<00:10:34.866> look<00:10:35.094> like<00:10:35.272> for<00:10:35.370> you?

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Oh<00:10:37.363> my<00:10:37.395> God.

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Well,<00:10:38.022> it<00:10:38.071> looks<00:10:38.183> a<00:10:38.231> lot<00:10:38.424> like<00:10:38.649> this,<00:10:39.051> two-dimensional,<00:10:39.935> right?

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I<00:10:42.749> like<00:10:43.054> the<00:10:43.151> three-dimensional<00:10:43.955> world<00:10:44.341> much<00:10:44.598> better,<00:10:45.000> but<00:10:46.210> the<00:10:46.516> reality<00:10:47.017> of<00:10:47.114> it<00:10:47.195> is<00:10:49.053> it's<00:10:49.521> two-dimensional<00:10:50.103> meetings,<00:10:50.571> Teams<00:10:50.975> and<00:10:51.072> Zoom.

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And,<00:10:53.092> you<00:10:53.125> know,<00:10:53.270> I<00:10:53.367> spend<00:10:53.821> 80%<00:10:54.403> of<00:10:54.549> my<00:10:54.808> time<00:10:55.601> externally<00:10:56.184> focused,<00:10:56.977> you<00:10:57.074> know,<00:10:57.398> with<00:10:58.340> investors<00:10:59.322> and<00:10:59.740> investor<00:11:00.062> relations.

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And,<00:11:01.592> you<00:11:01.657> know,<00:11:03.847> we're<00:11:04.314> a—<00:11:04.652> I<00:11:04.732> think<00:11:04.893> this<00:11:05.119> is<00:11:05.199> a,<00:11:06.004> you<00:11:06.037> know,<00:11:06.648> pretty<00:11:06.826> well-known<00:11:07.228> topic,<00:11:07.631> but<00:11:07.760> we're<00:11:08.343> an<00:11:08.424> M&A<00:11:08.764> roll-up<00:11:09.332> platform.

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So<00:11:11.584> we've<00:11:11.779> acquired<00:11:12.152> 8<00:11:12.330> businesses<00:11:12.978> over<00:11:13.140> the<00:11:13.221> last<00:11:14.048> 4<00:11:14.372> or<00:11:14.599> 5<00:11:14.907> years.

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So<00:11:16.365> I<00:11:16.398> spent<00:11:16.625> a<00:11:16.641> lot<00:11:16.770> of<00:11:16.852> my<00:11:17.014> time<00:11:17.160> doing<00:11:17.434> that,<00:11:18.323> talking<00:11:18.791> to<00:11:19.454> business<00:11:19.777> owners,<00:11:20.262> and<00:11:22.039> I<00:11:22.120> leave<00:11:22.427> the<00:11:22.847> day-to-day<00:11:23.655> running<00:11:23.913> of<00:11:24.042> the<00:11:24.139> business<00:11:24.608> to<00:11:24.769> those<00:11:25.028> that<00:11:25.093> are<00:11:25.873> much<00:11:26.114> more,<00:11:26.981> much<00:11:27.222> closer<00:11:27.559> to<00:11:27.720> it<00:11:27.800> than<00:11:27.944> I<00:11:28.025> am.

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We<00:11:29.566> talk<00:11:29.791> a<00:11:29.807> lot<00:11:29.951> about<00:11:30.289> self-leadership<00:11:31.108> at<00:11:31.188> CEO.com,<00:11:32.215> and<00:11:32.296> I<00:11:32.440> wonder,<00:11:32.777> like,<00:11:33.243> for<00:11:33.564> you,<00:11:33.885> what<00:11:33.998> does<00:11:34.142> that<00:11:34.367> mean?

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How<00:11:34.704> important<00:11:35.347> is<00:11:35.507> that<00:11:35.828> to<00:11:35.989> you?

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And<00:11:37.033> what<00:11:37.177> have<00:11:37.338> you<00:11:37.498> learned<00:11:37.819> over<00:11:37.996> the<00:11:38.221> years<00:11:38.718> on,<00:11:38.863> like,<00:11:39.040> kind<00:11:39.216> of<00:11:39.280> what<00:11:39.441> keeps<00:11:39.746> you<00:11:39.842> sane<00:11:40.260> and<00:11:40.404> grounded?

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Yeah,<00:11:42.636> man,<00:11:42.813> that's<00:11:43.038> a<00:11:43.070> great<00:11:43.375> question.

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I<00:11:44.403> am<00:11:44.643> a<00:11:44.804> huge<00:11:46.249> leadership<00:11:47.453> fan,<00:11:48.112> Kool-Aid<00:11:48.433> drinker.

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I<00:11:50.103> believe<00:11:51.066> I<00:11:51.146> have<00:11:51.339> a<00:11:51.403> saying<00:11:51.789> that<00:11:51.949> the<00:11:52.030> fish<00:11:52.431> rots<00:11:52.752> from<00:11:52.929> the<00:11:53.009> head<00:11:53.250> down,<00:11:53.716> right?

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So<00:11:54.135> if<00:11:54.280> you<00:11:54.312> have<00:11:54.522> poor<00:11:54.764> leadership,<00:11:56.006> it's<00:11:56.151> gonna<00:11:56.313> affect<00:11:56.700> the<00:11:56.797> entire<00:11:57.264> organization.

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And<00:11:58.006> we've<00:11:58.184> invested<00:11:58.732> heavily<00:12:00.345> here<00:12:00.571> at<00:12:00.652> NexusTech<00:12:01.313> in<00:12:01.394> that,<00:12:01.813> in<00:12:01.942> that<00:12:02.200> vein.

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We've<00:12:04.104> created<00:12:05.075> a<00:12:05.253> thing<00:12:05.399> that<00:12:05.496> we<00:12:05.577> call<00:12:05.739> the<00:12:05.820> NexusTech<00:12:06.386> Leadership<00:12:06.791> Academy.

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We<00:12:07.519> take<00:12:08.425> about<00:12:08.717> 25<00:12:09.461> of<00:12:09.607> our<00:12:10.918> frontline<00:12:11.404> leaders,<00:12:11.970> high<00:12:12.100> potential<00:12:12.601> leaders<00:12:13.912> through<00:12:14.138> like<00:12:14.397> an<00:12:14.478> executive<00:12:15.530> MBA<00:12:15.951> style<00:12:16.663> program<00:12:17.391> that<00:12:17.553> we<00:12:17.715> teach<00:12:18.669> once<00:12:18.847> a<00:12:18.912> month.

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You<00:12:19.553> know,<00:12:19.633> a<00:12:19.714> couple<00:12:20.021> hours<00:12:21.070> each<00:12:21.264> month,<00:12:22.055> different<00:12:22.378> topics<00:12:23.492> ranging<00:12:23.831> from,<00:12:25.172> you<00:12:25.204> know,<00:12:25.430> how<00:12:25.527> to<00:12:25.608> read<00:12:25.769> a<00:12:25.834> financial<00:12:26.318> statement<00:12:26.964> to<00:12:27.529> how<00:12:27.868> does<00:12:28.110> the<00:12:28.272> M&A<00:12:29.061> acquisition<00:12:29.560> process<00:12:30.188> work.

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And<00:12:32.056> so<00:12:32.281> we're<00:12:32.845> kind<00:12:33.022> of<00:12:33.102> giving<00:12:33.408> our<00:12:33.585> people<00:12:34.149> those<00:12:34.471> leadership<00:12:34.889> skills.

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I<00:12:35.598> developed<00:12:35.984> this<00:12:36.162> program<00:12:37.369> around<00:12:37.740> the<00:12:37.934> kinds<00:12:38.192> of<00:12:38.322> things<00:12:38.564> that<00:12:38.661> I<00:12:38.807> wish,<00:12:39.550> I<00:12:39.647> wish<00:12:39.793> somebody<00:12:40.181> had<00:12:40.278> told<00:12:40.601> me<00:12:40.828> 25<00:12:41.329> years<00:12:41.572> ago<00:12:44.159> that<00:12:44.547> I<00:12:44.628> wouldn't<00:12:44.773> have<00:12:44.870> had<00:12:45.113> to<00:12:45.145> skin<00:12:45.452> my<00:12:45.549> knees<00:12:46.002> so<00:12:46.099> much<00:12:46.503> along<00:12:46.827> the<00:12:46.972> way.

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But,<00:12:48.544> you<00:12:48.656> know,<00:12:49.620> we<00:12:49.797> invest<00:12:50.327> heavily<00:12:50.825> in<00:12:50.970> leadership<00:12:51.773> and<00:12:53.460> I<00:12:53.540> think<00:12:53.717> it's<00:12:53.942> critical,<00:12:54.424> you<00:12:54.521> know,<00:12:55.469> people,<00:12:56.127> companies<00:12:56.529> invest<00:12:56.915> all<00:12:56.995> the<00:12:57.140> time<00:12:57.398> in<00:12:58.223> technical<00:12:58.709> training<00:12:59.356> and,<00:12:59.825> you<00:12:59.857> know,<00:13:00.148> sending<00:13:00.488> people<00:13:00.876> to<00:13:01.038> sales<00:13:01.361> training,<00:13:01.733> sales<00:13:01.944> methodology<00:13:02.575> training<00:13:02.850> and<00:13:02.930> those<00:13:03.076> sorts<00:13:03.335> of<00:13:03.464> things.

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But<00:13:03.869> our<00:13:04.030> leaders,<00:13:05.237> our<00:13:05.333> leaders<00:13:05.736> get<00:13:05.913> ignored,<00:13:06.621> you<00:13:06.959> know,<00:13:07.667> and<00:13:07.812> it's<00:13:08.553> like<00:13:08.730> any<00:13:08.875> other<00:13:09.052> skill,<00:13:09.921> you<00:13:10.066> have<00:13:10.259> to<00:13:10.404> practice<00:13:10.952> it.

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So<00:13:13.002> that's<00:13:13.330> kind<00:13:13.511> of<00:13:13.560> how<00:13:13.740> we<00:13:13.888> approached<00:13:14.478> it.

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But<00:13:15.298> personally,<00:13:16.200> you<00:13:16.233> know,<00:13:16.348> I,<00:13:17.207> I<00:13:17.850> give<00:13:18.524> a,<00:13:19.407> it's<00:13:19.568> not<00:13:19.808> TED<00:13:20.033> Talks<00:13:20.354> because<00:13:20.836> I<00:13:20.852> don't<00:13:21.061> think<00:13:21.238> TED<00:13:21.462> Talks<00:13:21.719> would<00:13:22.121> care<00:13:22.281> about<00:13:22.602> me.

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But<00:13:24.031> I've<00:13:24.192> given<00:13:24.529> TED<00:13:24.754> Talks-like<00:13:25.589> speeches<00:13:27.339> to<00:13:28.286> other<00:13:28.543> organizations<00:13:29.427> and<00:13:29.507> I've<00:13:30.952> got<00:13:31.177> a<00:13:32.397> list<00:13:32.702> of<00:13:32.863> kind<00:13:33.023> of<00:13:33.184> 8<00:13:33.425> things<00:13:33.842> that<00:13:35.994> I<00:13:36.090> talk<00:13:36.347> about<00:13:36.588> in<00:13:36.716> those<00:13:37.278> things.

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And<00:13:37.632> it's<00:13:37.776> my<00:13:38.001> leadership<00:13:38.483> odyssey,<00:13:38.980> you<00:13:39.077> know,<00:13:39.382> and<00:13:39.462> it's<00:13:40.570> things<00:13:40.971> like,<00:13:41.614> you<00:13:41.726> know,<00:13:42.031> the<00:13:42.176> best<00:13:42.352> job<00:13:42.673> they<00:13:42.834> ever<00:13:43.059> had<00:13:43.637> is<00:13:43.862> the<00:13:43.942> one<00:13:44.038> you<00:13:44.118> have<00:13:44.295> right<00:13:44.520> now.

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And<00:13:45.920> there's<00:13:46.162> 3<00:13:46.470> things<00:13:46.906> that<00:13:47.052> are<00:13:47.149> certain<00:13:47.764> in<00:13:48.022> life,<00:13:48.588> death,<00:13:48.912> taxes,<00:13:49.478> and<00:13:49.559> people<00:13:49.947> will<00:13:50.125> quit.

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Don't<00:13:53.112> be<00:13:53.274> the<00:13:53.354> 6th<00:13:53.823> idiot,<00:13:54.565> right?

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If<00:13:55.066> you<00:13:55.147> hang<00:13:55.308> around<00:13:55.615> 5<00:13:55.873> successful<00:13:56.503> people,<00:13:56.987> you'll<00:13:57.149> be<00:13:57.230> the<00:13:57.327> 6th,<00:13:57.940> right?

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Don't<00:13:58.441> be<00:13:58.538> the<00:13:58.667> 6th<00:13:59.070> idiot.

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And<00:14:00.286> so<00:14:01.091> I<00:14:01.107> have<00:14:01.267> this<00:14:01.493> list<00:14:01.750> of<00:14:01.895> 8<00:14:02.152> things<00:14:02.538> that<00:14:02.634> I<00:14:02.779> go<00:14:03.037> through<00:14:03.664> and<00:14:04.741> it's<00:14:05.111> all<00:14:05.208> based<00:14:05.594> on,<00:14:06.076> you<00:14:06.108> know,<00:14:06.317> kind<00:14:06.430> of<00:14:06.559> real<00:14:06.719> life<00:14:06.896> things<00:14:07.298> that<00:14:07.701> I've<00:14:07.861> lived<00:14:08.247> through<00:14:08.746> in<00:14:09.068> my<00:14:09.228> career.

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How<00:14:10.853> do<00:14:10.933> you<00:14:11.158> define<00:14:11.496> the<00:14:11.640> culture<00:14:12.524> of<00:14:12.605> your<00:14:12.765> company?

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How<00:14:13.504> did<00:14:13.649> you<00:14:13.745> come<00:14:13.986> up<00:14:14.147> with<00:14:14.388> it?

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And,<00:14:15.417> um,<00:14:15.995> how<00:14:16.092> do<00:14:16.220> you<00:14:16.381> communicate<00:14:17.056> it,<00:14:17.200> particularly<00:14:17.763> now<00:14:18.020> that,<00:14:18.711> you<00:14:18.791> know,<00:14:18.904> you're<00:14:19.048> in<00:14:19.129> this<00:14:19.289> hybrid<00:14:19.852> work<00:14:20.112> environment<00:14:20.811> or<00:14:21.088> the<00:14:21.218> remote<00:14:21.705> work<00:14:21.901> environment?

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I'm<00:14:22.616> sure<00:14:22.795> that's<00:14:23.169> become<00:14:23.510> a<00:14:23.591> challenge<00:14:23.998> as<00:14:24.160> well.

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Yeah,<00:14:26.574> I<00:14:26.638> mean,<00:14:26.815> building<00:14:27.137> culture,<00:14:27.845> you<00:14:27.941> know,<00:14:28.263> as<00:14:28.424> a<00:14:28.440> CEO,<00:14:29.068> your<00:14:29.454> job,<00:14:29.872> in<00:14:29.952> my<00:14:30.081> opinion,<00:14:30.516> is<00:14:30.982> two<00:14:31.159> things,<00:14:31.481> right?

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Mitigate<00:14:32.189> risk<00:14:32.832> and,<00:14:33.315> uh,<00:14:33.733> and<00:14:33.814> develop<00:14:34.135> the<00:14:34.216> culture.

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And,<00:14:35.915> um,<00:14:37.118> it's<00:14:37.439> hard<00:14:37.680> enough<00:14:38.322> to<00:14:38.419> develop<00:14:38.885> a<00:14:38.981> culture,<00:14:40.507> you<00:14:40.587> know,<00:14:41.487> if<00:14:41.615> you're<00:14:41.712> in<00:14:41.872> person,<00:14:42.370> it's<00:14:42.675> even<00:14:42.836> harder<00:14:43.157> when<00:14:43.302> you're<00:14:43.398> remote.

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And<00:14:44.844> so<00:14:46.611> we<00:14:46.932> kind<00:14:47.157> of<00:14:47.398> dealt<00:14:47.575> with<00:14:47.735> that<00:14:48.362> a<00:14:48.442> little<00:14:48.619> bit<00:14:48.779> pre-pandemic.

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I<00:14:50.530> had<00:14:50.771> to<00:14:51.173> kind<00:14:51.285> of<00:14:51.414> revamp<00:14:51.976> the<00:14:52.072> culture<00:14:53.357> here<00:14:53.518> at<00:14:53.678> Nexus<00:14:54.080> Tech<00:14:55.365> because<00:14:55.622> it<00:14:55.750> had<00:14:55.927> become<00:14:56.730> prior<00:14:56.971> to<00:14:57.019> my<00:14:57.148> arrival,<00:14:57.614> it<00:14:57.678> had<00:14:57.774> become<00:14:59.284> very<00:14:59.477> much<00:15:00.120> a<00:15:00.264> technical<00:15:01.533> kind<00:15:01.854> of<00:15:02.273> culture,<00:15:02.759> right,<00:15:03.068> that<00:15:03.230> valued<00:15:04.284> how<00:15:04.381> smart<00:15:05.013> your<00:15:05.176> engineers<00:15:05.743> were<00:15:06.311> and,<00:15:06.635> you<00:15:06.667> know,<00:15:07.283> who<00:15:07.381> had<00:15:07.559> a<00:15:07.624> bigger<00:15:07.867> brain<00:15:08.354> and<00:15:08.759> those<00:15:08.873> sorts<00:15:09.181> of<00:15:09.245> things<00:15:11.262> to<00:15:11.488> one<00:15:11.810> of<00:15:12.390> passionate<00:15:12.857> customer<00:15:13.276> service.

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You<00:15:14.162> know,<00:15:14.323> we're<00:15:14.484> in<00:15:14.565> an<00:15:14.710> industry<00:15:15.934> where<00:15:16.579> customers<00:15:17.223> pay<00:15:17.529> us<00:15:18.915> in<00:15:19.624> a<00:15:19.640> lot<00:15:19.865> of<00:15:19.897> cases,<00:15:20.365> a<00:15:20.526> lot<00:15:20.832> of<00:15:20.864> money<00:15:21.573> every<00:15:21.734> month<00:15:22.379> to<00:15:22.621> be<00:15:23.587> their<00:15:23.813> IT<00:15:24.151> department.

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And,<00:15:25.827> you<00:15:25.859> know,<00:15:26.729> when<00:15:26.874> they're<00:15:27.036> unhappy,<00:15:27.864> it's<00:15:28.029> usually<00:15:28.311> not<00:15:28.625> because<00:15:28.940> we<00:15:28.973> don't<00:15:29.205> have<00:15:29.387> smart<00:15:29.768> people.

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It's<00:15:30.693> usually<00:15:31.095> because<00:15:31.560> we<00:15:31.801> weren't<00:15:32.299> doing<00:15:32.620> the<00:15:32.781> things<00:15:33.262> that,<00:15:34.547> you<00:15:35.607> know,<00:15:35.767> that<00:15:35.896> created<00:15:36.217> a<00:15:36.233> culture<00:15:36.634> of<00:15:36.715> passionate<00:15:37.196> customer<00:15:37.614> service.

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So<00:15:39.348> I<00:15:39.749> had<00:15:39.846> to<00:15:39.926> start<00:15:40.247> with<00:15:40.392> that.

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It<00:15:40.809> was<00:15:40.905> mission,<00:15:41.210> vision,<00:15:41.532> values,<00:15:42.318> you<00:15:42.350> know,<00:15:42.639> it<00:15:42.800> was<00:15:44.004> creating<00:15:44.406> a<00:15:44.502> culture<00:15:44.903> of<00:15:45.064> passionate<00:15:45.449> customer<00:15:45.867> service<00:15:46.349> and<00:15:46.429> then<00:15:47.296> not<00:15:47.472> only<00:15:47.970> saying<00:15:48.516> that,<00:15:48.998> but<00:15:49.399> driving<00:15:49.881> that<00:15:50.218> through<00:15:51.968> not<00:15:52.193> only<00:15:52.611> kind<00:15:52.771> of<00:15:52.932> rebranding<00:15:53.494> the<00:15:53.574> website<00:15:54.280> and,<00:15:54.457> you<00:15:54.714> know,<00:15:54.939> the<00:15:55.019> things<00:15:55.420> that<00:15:56.456> you<00:15:56.537> would<00:15:56.682> typically<00:15:57.101> see,<00:15:57.504> but,<00:15:58.535> you<00:15:58.568> know,<00:15:58.874> every<00:15:59.116> month<00:15:59.921> we<00:16:00.308> do<00:16:00.453> an<00:16:00.550> all-hands<00:16:00.953> call<00:16:01.195> for<00:16:01.356> all<00:16:01.614> 350<00:16:02.258> people<00:16:02.677> and<00:16:02.822> we<00:16:02.903> talk<00:16:03.161> about<00:16:03.870> our<00:16:04.595> core<00:16:04.821> values<00:16:05.240> and<00:16:05.385> we<00:16:05.450> hand<00:16:05.708> out<00:16:05.821> a<00:16:06.676> $100<00:16:07.177> gift<00:16:07.403> card<00:16:07.661> to<00:16:07.806> Amazon<00:16:09.017> for<00:16:09.130> the<00:16:09.436> person<00:16:09.759> that<00:16:10.244> best<00:16:11.842> exhibited<00:16:12.423> the<00:16:12.891> core<00:16:13.068> values<00:16:13.569> of,<00:16:14.424> you<00:16:14.457> know,<00:16:14.570> the<00:16:14.845> business.

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So<00:16:16.124> we,<00:16:16.529> you<00:16:16.561> know,<00:16:16.772> we<00:16:16.869> beat<00:16:17.112> that<00:16:17.274> drum<00:16:17.905> every<00:16:18.083> month,<00:16:20.431> you<00:16:20.528> know,<00:16:20.755> and<00:16:20.836> we<00:16:20.917> don't,<00:16:21.877> you<00:16:21.909> know,<00:16:22.198> frankly<00:16:22.776> tolerate<00:16:23.403> people<00:16:23.644> that<00:16:24.463> don't<00:16:24.623> believe<00:16:24.880> in<00:16:25.009> those<00:16:25.250> core<00:16:25.410> values.

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It's<00:16:26.021> just,<00:16:26.390> you<00:16:26.487> know,<00:16:26.808> it's<00:16:27.595> okay<00:16:27.916> if<00:16:28.061> you<00:16:28.157> don't<00:16:28.398> have<00:16:28.543> the<00:16:28.575> same<00:16:28.864> core<00:16:29.041> values<00:16:29.442> as<00:16:29.522> us,<00:16:29.763> but,<00:16:31.353> you<00:16:31.610> know,<00:16:32.076> in<00:16:32.173> order<00:16:32.317> to<00:16:32.414> work<00:16:32.590> here,<00:16:32.735> you<00:16:32.879> kind<00:16:33.056> of<00:16:33.136> have<00:16:33.377> to,<00:16:33.682> right?

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So<00:16:34.084> we<00:16:34.180> drive<00:16:34.582> that<00:16:36.028> and<00:16:36.252> it<00:16:36.975> has<00:16:37.232> to<00:16:39.320> bleed<00:16:39.722> from,<00:16:40.509> you<00:16:40.541> know,<00:16:40.702> from<00:16:40.910> your<00:16:41.023> skin<00:16:42.211> to<00:16:42.372> really,<00:16:42.918> you<00:16:42.998> know,<00:16:43.641> the<00:16:43.737> employees<00:16:44.139> in<00:16:44.203> the<00:16:44.283> business<00:16:44.685> know<00:16:46.050> when,<00:16:46.853> uh,<00:16:47.191> you're<00:16:47.432> culture<00:16:48.411> or<00:16:48.738> your<00:16:48.901> mission,<00:16:49.227> vision,<00:16:49.553> values<00:16:50.043> are<00:16:50.206> lip<00:16:50.386> service.

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They<00:16:51.201> know.

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They<00:16:51.919> just<00:16:52.148> do.

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How<00:16:54.272> do<00:16:54.337> you<00:16:54.434> decide<00:16:57.493> where<00:16:57.671> to<00:16:57.751> spend<00:16:57.994> your<00:16:58.140> time<00:16:58.480> each<00:16:58.706> day<00:17:00.001> given,<00:17:01.577> you<00:17:01.625> know,<00:17:01.722> you<00:17:01.754> probably<00:17:01.997> have<00:17:02.159> so<00:17:02.256> many<00:17:02.547> incoming<00:17:02.903> and<00:17:02.968> there's<00:17:03.129> probably<00:17:03.388> like<00:17:03.614> 10<00:17:03.841> different<00:17:04.164> things<00:17:04.326> you<00:17:04.423> could<00:17:04.569> be<00:17:04.666> doing<00:17:04.989> even<00:17:05.232> right<00:17:05.474> now.

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How<00:17:06.768> do<00:17:06.833> you<00:17:06.946> decide<00:17:07.577> like<00:17:07.820> where<00:17:07.981> to<00:17:08.127> put<00:17:08.370> your<00:17:09.033> focus,<00:17:09.845> time,<00:17:10.349> and<00:17:10.479> energy?

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Yeah,<00:17:13.484> that's<00:17:13.922> a<00:17:14.052> great<00:17:14.377> question.

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I<00:17:14.783> wish<00:17:14.962> I<00:17:15.043> had<00:17:15.222> a<00:17:15.286> scientific<00:17:16.180> answer<00:17:16.488> for<00:17:16.813> you.

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I<00:17:19.323> am<00:17:19.710> pretty<00:17:20.114> protective<00:17:20.823> of<00:17:20.985> my<00:17:21.162> calendar.

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So<00:17:22.549> at<00:17:22.694> the<00:17:22.775> beginning<00:17:23.114> of<00:17:23.194> a<00:17:23.340> week,<00:17:23.888> you<00:17:23.985> know,<00:17:24.049> I'm<00:17:24.307> kind<00:17:24.549> of<00:17:24.630> looking<00:17:24.856> a<00:17:24.953> week<00:17:25.178> ahead<00:17:25.501> and<00:17:25.598> going,<00:17:26.560> what<00:17:26.656> are<00:17:26.753> the<00:17:26.914> things<00:17:27.398> that<00:17:28.189> I<00:17:28.269> have<00:17:28.544> to<00:17:28.689> be<00:17:29.641> involved<00:17:30.125> in<00:17:30.286> versus,<00:17:30.721> you<00:17:31.125> know,<00:17:31.286> sort<00:17:31.512> of<00:17:31.657> nice<00:17:31.915> to<00:17:31.996> haves?

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I<00:17:34.882> try<00:17:35.206> to<00:17:35.351> keep,<00:17:36.323> you<00:17:36.356> know,<00:17:36.663> the<00:17:36.825> things<00:17:37.133> on<00:17:37.230> the<00:17:37.311> calendar<00:17:37.894> that<00:17:38.931> require<00:17:39.433> my<00:17:39.643> involvement,<00:17:40.307> not,<00:17:41.360> you<00:17:41.506> know,<00:17:41.603> not<00:17:41.846> things<00:17:42.170> that<00:17:44.130> you<00:17:44.243> know,<00:17:45.110> or<00:17:45.736> micromanagement<00:17:46.459> kinds<00:17:46.715> of<00:17:46.796> things.

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But<00:17:47.261> I<00:17:47.358> think<00:17:47.518> the<00:17:47.663> biggest<00:17:48.000> thing<00:17:48.225> I<00:17:48.482> do,<00:17:49.044> and<00:17:49.140> it's,<00:17:49.702> I'm<00:17:50.328> not<00:17:50.569> always<00:17:50.810> successful<00:17:51.436> at<00:17:51.613> this,<00:17:52.014> but<00:17:52.962> I<00:17:53.058> try<00:17:53.299> to<00:17:53.379> block<00:17:53.845> off<00:17:54.904> an<00:17:55.049> afternoon<00:17:55.771> once<00:17:56.028> a<00:17:56.109> week<00:17:56.494> to<00:17:56.574> actually<00:17:57.072> think,<00:17:58.116> right?

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And<00:17:58.597> to,<00:17:59.641> you<00:18:00.283> know,<00:18:00.926> not<00:18:01.488> do<00:18:02.274> the<00:18:02.451> whirlwind<00:18:03.254> tasks<00:18:03.896> that<00:18:04.057> need<00:18:04.217> to<00:18:04.297> get<00:18:04.538> done<00:18:05.100> and,<00:18:05.646> you<00:18:05.678> know,<00:18:05.887> work<00:18:06.208> on<00:18:06.305> the<00:18:06.449> business<00:18:06.786> instead<00:18:07.123> of<00:18:07.252> in<00:18:07.348> the<00:18:07.509> business.

00:18:09.751 --> 00:18:22.748
You<00:18:09.784> know,<00:18:09.994> whether<00:18:10.253> that<00:18:10.495> be<00:18:10.899> reading<00:18:11.207> up<00:18:11.368> on<00:18:11.951> articles<00:18:12.517> on<00:18:13.633> our<00:18:14.134> industry<00:18:15.169> or<00:18:16.479> leadership<00:18:17.288> or<00:18:17.530> reading<00:18:17.660> a,<00:18:18.094> you<00:18:18.159> know,<00:18:18.336> a<00:18:18.481> book<00:18:18.658> that<00:18:18.819> I<00:18:19.882> assigned<00:18:20.413> to<00:18:20.510> our<00:18:20.671> Leadership<00:18:21.074> Academy<00:18:22.281> class.

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So,<00:18:23.409> you<00:18:23.505> know,<00:18:24.600> it's<00:18:24.842> real<00:18:25.245> easy<00:18:25.502> to<00:18:25.663> get<00:18:25.985> bogged<00:18:26.388> down<00:18:27.275> as<00:18:27.437> a<00:18:27.518> CEO<00:18:28.812> into<00:18:29.039> the<00:18:29.136> weeds<00:18:31.158> and<00:18:31.238> you<00:18:31.384> have<00:18:31.724> to<00:18:31.885> preserve<00:18:32.516> time<00:18:33.018> to<00:18:33.649> think.

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Right?

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Or<00:18:35.056> else<00:18:35.217> you<00:18:35.443> will<00:18:35.620> become,<00:18:36.088> you<00:18:36.845> know,<00:18:37.071> that<00:18:37.296> 50-foot<00:18:38.199> leader<00:18:38.521> instead<00:18:38.924> of<00:18:39.004> the<00:18:39.166> 50,000-foot<00:18:40.036> leader.

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Who's<00:18:43.428> a<00:18:43.509> leader<00:18:43.834> or<00:18:43.915> an<00:18:44.062> example<00:18:44.549> of<00:18:44.646> a<00:18:44.727> leader<00:18:44.971> that<00:18:45.117> you<00:18:45.231> admire?

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Well,<00:18:47.997> there's<00:18:48.175> a<00:18:48.191> lot<00:18:48.417> of<00:18:48.482> them.

00:18:49.790 --> 00:19:01.852
One<00:18:50.017> of<00:18:50.114> those<00:18:50.582> 8<00:18:51.164> lessons<00:18:51.729> that<00:18:51.874> I<00:18:51.971> talk<00:18:52.230> about<00:18:52.682> in<00:18:52.779> my,<00:18:53.248> my<00:18:53.409> Leadership<00:18:53.894> Odyssey<00:18:54.314> is<00:18:54.475> to<00:18:54.637> find<00:18:54.895> a<00:18:54.944> mentor<00:18:55.348> and,<00:18:57.922> you<00:18:58.003> know,<00:18:58.347> invest<00:18:58.675> time<00:18:59.084> in<00:18:59.166> those<00:18:59.723> relationships<00:19:00.460> with<00:19:00.558> people<00:19:00.869> that<00:19:00.951> have<00:19:01.050> been<00:19:01.279> there<00:19:01.459> and<00:19:01.623> done<00:19:01.787> that.

00:19:03.977 --> 00:19:16.124
I<00:19:04.139> have<00:19:04.398> two,<00:19:05.353> have<00:19:05.758> had<00:19:06.341> two,<00:19:06.907> one<00:19:07.393> unfortunately<00:19:08.122> passed<00:19:08.445> away<00:19:08.591> a<00:19:08.672> few<00:19:08.834> years<00:19:09.093> ago,<00:19:11.198> but<00:19:11.424> the<00:19:11.521> other<00:19:11.764> is<00:19:11.861> still<00:19:12.428> a<00:19:12.880> really<00:19:13.138> influential<00:19:13.703> guy<00:19:14.042> named<00:19:15.543> John<00:19:15.801> Kelly.

00:19:16.430 --> 00:19:28.126
He<00:19:16.689> was<00:19:16.995> a<00:19:17.334> former<00:19:17.592> CEO<00:19:18.609> of<00:19:18.851> McData,<00:19:21.046> board<00:19:21.353> member<00:19:21.676> of<00:19:21.756> Polycom<00:19:23.204> and,<00:19:23.622> you<00:19:23.702> know,<00:19:23.863> former<00:19:24.893> Quest<00:19:25.166> executive<00:19:26.019> and<00:19:26.501> he's<00:19:26.823> kind<00:19:26.968> of<00:19:27.000> been<00:19:27.225> there<00:19:27.402> and<00:19:27.547> done<00:19:27.804> that.

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And<00:19:28.769> I<00:19:28.833> just,<00:19:29.582> I<00:19:29.742> love<00:19:30.047> the<00:19:30.143> way<00:19:30.368> that<00:19:30.544> guy<00:19:30.945> led.

00:19:31.507 --> 00:19:40.744
I<00:19:31.667> love<00:19:31.907> the<00:19:32.052> way<00:19:32.308> that<00:19:32.533> he<00:19:32.773> engages<00:19:33.415> with<00:19:33.511> people<00:19:34.072> and<00:19:34.954> he,<00:19:36.221> he<00:19:36.253> made<00:19:36.558> everybody<00:19:37.184> that<00:19:37.296> he<00:19:37.440> interacted<00:19:38.082> with<00:19:38.306> feel<00:19:39.108> super<00:19:39.525> important,<00:19:40.551> right?

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And,<00:19:41.209> you<00:19:41.465> know,<00:19:43.037> I,<00:19:43.454> I<00:19:43.598> think<00:19:44.641> you<00:19:44.737> look<00:19:44.961> at<00:19:45.058> that<00:19:45.282> guy's<00:19:45.603> career<00:19:46.565> and<00:19:47.046> if<00:19:47.287> I'm<00:19:47.463> even<00:19:47.768> half<00:19:48.024> as<00:19:48.088> successful<00:19:48.746> as,<00:19:49.227> as<00:19:49.371> he<00:19:49.532> was,<00:19:50.109> then<00:19:50.430> I'm<00:19:51.953> doing<00:19:52.130> okay.

00:19:53.413 --> 00:19:55.225
It<00:19:53.477> sounds<00:19:53.717> like<00:19:53.862> he<00:19:53.942> was<00:19:54.102> like<00:19:54.279> super<00:19:54.664> empathetic.

00:19:55.963 --> 00:19:59.656
And<00:19:56.043> I<00:19:56.188> wonder<00:19:56.525> what<00:19:57.232> role<00:19:57.633> you<00:19:57.810> believe<00:19:58.131> empathy<00:19:58.532> plays<00:19:59.014> in<00:19:59.239> leadership.

00:20:01.021 --> 00:20:06.657
Yeah,<00:20:01.422> I<00:20:01.583> think<00:20:02.610> he<00:20:02.771> had<00:20:02.867> a<00:20:03.092> good<00:20:03.429> balance<00:20:03.975> of<00:20:04.136> empathy<00:20:05.581> and<00:20:05.693> reality,<00:20:06.400> right?

00:20:06.705 --> 00:20:10.896
Like,<00:20:07.106> you<00:20:07.138> know,<00:20:08.407> are<00:20:08.471> you<00:20:08.567> familiar<00:20:09.049> with<00:20:09.451> the<00:20:09.595> term<00:20:09.772> the<00:20:09.852> Stockdale<00:20:10.398> Paradox?

00:20:11.779 --> 00:20:12.004
No.

00:20:12.887 --> 00:20:18.201
You<00:20:12.919> know,<00:20:13.449> Admiral<00:20:13.722> Stockdale,<00:20:14.508> prisoner<00:20:14.830> of<00:20:14.974> war,<00:20:15.697> Hanoi<00:20:16.018> Hilton,<00:20:16.580> Vietnam<00:20:17.110> era,<00:20:17.559> right?

00:20:18.346 --> 00:20:40.451
And<00:20:18.667> one<00:20:18.828> of<00:20:18.924> the,<00:20:19.165> if<00:20:19.261> you<00:20:19.406> look<00:20:19.582> it<00:20:19.791> up,<00:20:20.048> it's<00:20:20.289> a<00:20:21.236> You<00:20:21.268> know,<00:20:21.750> effectively,<00:20:22.922> uh,<00:20:23.178> based<00:20:23.499> on<00:20:23.644> his<00:20:23.821> experience<00:20:24.318> as<00:20:24.463> a<00:20:24.543> POW<00:20:25.811> in<00:20:26.373> Vietnam,<00:20:27.047> and<00:20:27.127> it<00:20:27.208> was,<00:20:27.689> it<00:20:27.818> was<00:20:28.219> his<00:20:28.540> observation<00:20:30.241> that<00:20:30.964> those<00:20:31.381> that<00:20:31.670> came<00:20:31.991> into<00:20:32.665> the<00:20:32.810> prisoner<00:20:33.131> of<00:20:33.275> war<00:20:33.516> camp<00:20:34.319> that<00:20:34.479> were<00:20:34.720> overly<00:20:35.202> optimistic,<00:20:36.967> um,<00:20:37.369> we'll<00:20:37.626> be<00:20:37.770> out<00:20:37.866> by<00:20:38.091> Christmas,<00:20:38.910> and<00:20:38.974> then<00:20:39.134> they<00:20:39.215> were<00:20:39.375> let<00:20:39.552> down,<00:20:40.194> right?

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They<00:20:40.820> failed.

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They<00:20:41.799> didn't<00:20:41.960> make<00:20:42.200> it.

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As<00:20:43.404> well<00:20:43.645> as<00:20:43.870> those<00:20:44.207> that<00:20:44.432> were<00:20:45.010> super<00:20:45.266> negative,<00:20:45.876> right?

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And<00:20:46.294> we're<00:20:46.438> never<00:20:46.695> going<00:20:46.775> to<00:20:46.856> get<00:20:47.000> out<00:20:47.161> of<00:20:47.241> here.

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And<00:20:47.722> those<00:20:48.140> people<00:20:48.397> didn't<00:20:48.766> make<00:20:48.958> it,<00:20:49.087> but<00:20:49.199> the<00:20:49.328> people<00:20:49.809> that<00:20:49.970> were<00:20:50.387> super<00:20:50.853> realistic<00:20:53.114> about<00:20:53.578> their<00:20:53.675> situation,<00:20:54.556> but<00:20:54.860> yet<00:20:55.181> had<00:20:55.437> ultimate<00:20:55.822> faith<00:20:56.223> that<00:20:56.559> they<00:20:56.703> would,<00:20:57.505> you<00:20:57.537> know,<00:20:57.681> one<00:20:57.825> day<00:20:57.937> make<00:20:58.146> it<00:20:58.226> home.

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And<00:20:58.450> it's<00:20:59.444> called<00:20:59.604> the<00:20:59.684> Stockdale<00:21:00.165> Paradox.

00:21:00.806 --> 00:21:08.225
And,<00:21:01.206> you<00:21:01.286> know,<00:21:01.687> I<00:21:01.911> think<00:21:02.889> John<00:21:03.274> Kelly's<00:21:03.834> view<00:21:04.556> on<00:21:05.132> leadership<00:21:07.055> really<00:21:07.360> aligns<00:21:07.857> with<00:21:08.017> that.

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It's<00:21:08.434> like,<00:21:09.043> hey,<00:21:09.764> you<00:21:09.860> can<00:21:10.036> be<00:21:10.180> a<00:21:10.261> great<00:21:10.501> cheerleader<00:21:11.046> to<00:21:11.206> your<00:21:11.302> people<00:21:11.623> and<00:21:11.783> be<00:21:11.927> super<00:21:12.328> empathetic,<00:21:12.905> but<00:21:13.001> if<00:21:13.065> you're<00:21:13.177> not<00:21:13.450> real<00:21:13.866> and<00:21:13.930> you're<00:21:14.026> not<00:21:14.587> painting<00:21:14.908> the<00:21:14.988> picture,<00:21:15.292> you<00:21:15.789> know,<00:21:15.949> that<00:21:16.991> the<00:21:17.280> the<00:21:18.435> reality<00:21:19.077> of<00:21:19.542> what<00:21:19.655> they're<00:21:19.799> facing,<00:21:21.067> you<00:21:21.099> know,<00:21:21.709> you're<00:21:22.030> setting<00:21:22.351> people<00:21:22.592> up<00:21:22.768> for<00:21:22.913> failure.

00:21:23.346 --> 00:21:30.295
So<00:21:23.555> I<00:21:23.715> think,<00:21:24.851> you<00:21:24.871> know,<00:21:25.031> not<00:21:25.272> only<00:21:25.496> was<00:21:25.721> he<00:21:25.817> empathetic,<00:21:28.209> but<00:21:28.449> he<00:21:28.530> was<00:21:28.770> also<00:21:29.107> a<00:21:29.412> realist,<00:21:30.134> right?

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And<00:21:30.552> I<00:21:30.696> think<00:21:30.937> that's<00:21:31.771> a<00:21:31.900> good<00:21:32.076> combination.

00:21:33.842 --> 00:21:43.166
Part<00:21:34.066> of<00:21:34.147> your<00:21:34.243> job<00:21:34.484> also<00:21:34.821> is<00:21:34.965> to<00:21:35.045> like<00:21:35.447> look<00:21:35.623> at<00:21:35.751> the<00:21:35.816> macroeconomic<00:21:37.212> environment,<00:21:38.255> the<00:21:38.416> macro<00:21:39.057> environment<00:21:39.539> in<00:21:39.699> general<00:21:40.101> now,<00:21:40.422> which<00:21:40.598> is<00:21:40.743> different<00:21:41.208> for<00:21:41.320> CEOs<00:21:41.930> than<00:21:42.026> like<00:21:42.187> 20<00:21:42.412> years<00:21:42.684> ago,<00:21:43.054> right?

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Like,<00:21:43.680> CEOs<00:21:44.256> today<00:21:45.058> are<00:21:45.378> asked<00:21:45.699> to<00:21:45.811> make<00:21:46.276> comments<00:21:47.061> on<00:21:47.222> what's<00:21:47.462> going<00:21:47.718> on<00:21:48.023> in<00:21:48.263> other<00:21:48.520> realms<00:21:49.706> of<00:21:50.042> society<00:21:51.004> that<00:21:51.132> have<00:21:51.260> nothing<00:21:51.565> to<00:21:51.629> do<00:21:51.661> with<00:21:51.789> their<00:21:51.886> business,<00:21:52.446> which<00:21:52.607> is,<00:21:52.751> which<00:21:52.863> is<00:21:52.991> kind<00:21:53.152> of<00:21:53.248> interesting,<00:21:53.729> right?

00:21:54.033 --> 00:22:02.512
I<00:21:54.113> wonder<00:21:54.354> like,<00:21:54.995> how<00:21:55.091> do<00:21:55.155> you<00:21:55.315> think<00:21:55.492> about<00:21:55.732> that<00:21:56.678> and<00:21:56.998> kind<00:21:57.239> of<00:21:58.200> how<00:21:58.377> you<00:21:58.537> handle<00:21:59.002> that<00:21:59.402> when,<00:21:59.643> whenever<00:21:59.963> that<00:22:00.124> comes,<00:22:00.380> if<00:22:00.476> it<00:22:00.604> ever<00:22:00.765> comes<00:22:01.021> up<00:22:01.246> in,<00:22:01.662> in<00:22:01.806> your<00:22:02.127> world?

00:22:03.025 --> 00:22:13.700
And<00:22:03.169> what<00:22:03.249> are<00:22:03.329> you<00:22:03.505> thinking<00:22:03.826> like<00:22:03.970> going<00:22:04.243> into<00:22:04.451> 2024,<00:22:06.214> what<00:22:06.390> the<00:22:06.775> macroeconomic<00:22:07.673> environment<00:22:08.298> will<00:22:08.458> be<00:22:08.698> like,<00:22:09.115> how<00:22:09.420> you<00:22:09.516> think<00:22:09.756> we're<00:22:10.221> handling<00:22:10.862> it<00:22:11.118> as,<00:22:11.503> you<00:22:11.535> know,<00:22:11.760> a<00:22:11.984> country<00:22:12.561> and<00:22:12.641> then<00:22:12.930> the<00:22:12.964> rest<00:22:13.238> of<00:22:13.289> the<00:22:13.375> world?

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Yeah,<00:22:16.259> it's<00:22:16.372> a<00:22:16.404> great<00:22:16.792> question.

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I<00:22:17.534> do,<00:22:18.163> like<00:22:18.325> you<00:22:18.405> said,<00:22:18.599> I<00:22:18.744> do<00:22:18.889> get<00:22:19.051> asked<00:22:19.228> those,<00:22:19.696> those<00:22:19.874> questions.

00:22:20.906 --> 00:22:30.271
Um,<00:22:22.116> I'm<00:22:22.278> not<00:22:23.165> a,<00:22:23.423> a<00:22:23.504> global<00:22:23.827> economist<00:22:24.779> by<00:22:24.940> trade,<00:22:25.360> so<00:22:25.827> I<00:22:25.908> also<00:22:26.214> know<00:22:26.407> my<00:22:26.552> swim<00:22:26.809> lane<00:22:27.115> and,<00:22:27.373> and<00:22:27.840> you<00:22:27.936> know<00:22:28.967> what<00:22:29.128> my<00:22:29.289> area<00:22:29.611> expertise<00:22:30.190> is.

00:22:30.335 --> 00:22:45.299
I,<00:22:30.512> I<00:22:30.577> can<00:22:30.754> tell<00:22:30.931> you<00:22:31.543> the<00:22:31.623> same—<00:22:32.509> I<00:22:32.525> have<00:22:32.686> the<00:22:32.766> same<00:22:33.153> view<00:22:33.668> about<00:22:35.165> the<00:22:35.230> global<00:22:35.510> economic<00:22:36.070> situation<00:22:36.664> as<00:22:36.812> I<00:22:36.895> had<00:22:37.389> about<00:22:37.966> COVID<00:22:38.602> Which<00:22:38.827> is<00:22:39.084> anybody<00:22:39.485> that<00:22:39.710> says<00:22:40.850> they<00:22:41.027> know<00:22:41.557> how<00:22:41.654> to<00:22:41.750> navigate<00:22:42.296> their<00:22:42.457> way<00:22:42.778> through<00:22:43.260> what<00:22:43.420> we're<00:22:43.565> experiencing<00:22:44.207> is<00:22:45.010> lying.

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Because<00:22:46.954> I<00:22:47.098> think<00:22:47.275> over<00:22:47.435> the<00:22:47.516> last<00:22:47.821> 3<00:22:47.998> years,<00:22:49.266> you<00:22:49.347> know,<00:22:49.459> the<00:22:49.668> worst<00:22:49.925> economic<00:22:50.423> environment<00:22:50.889> in<00:22:51.033> 100<00:22:51.370> years<00:22:51.595> since<00:22:51.852> the<00:22:51.949> Great<00:22:52.157> Depression,<00:22:52.720> right?

00:22:52.896 --> 00:22:56.430
So<00:22:53.603> none<00:22:53.860> of<00:22:54.020> us<00:22:54.486> have<00:22:55.450> lived<00:22:55.787> through<00:22:56.092> that.

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We've<00:22:56.735> lived<00:22:56.976> through<00:22:57.072> some,<00:22:57.618> you<00:22:57.650> know,<00:22:57.811> some<00:22:58.036> of<00:22:58.212> us<00:22:58.437> that<00:22:58.598> are<00:22:58.823> older<00:22:59.064> have<00:23:00.509> lived<00:23:00.750> through<00:23:00.862> some<00:23:01.168> tougher<00:23:01.489> times<00:23:01.971> like<00:23:02.212> the<00:23:02.292> late<00:23:02.693> 2000s<00:23:03.416> and<00:23:03.577> those<00:23:03.753> sorts<00:23:04.059> of<00:23:04.139> things.

00:23:04.540 --> 00:23:14.946
But<00:23:05.369> Nobody<00:23:06.097> really,<00:23:09.042> I<00:23:09.592> firmly<00:23:09.915> believe<00:23:10.239> if<00:23:10.385> you<00:23:11.307> say<00:23:11.533> that<00:23:11.760> you<00:23:11.792> know<00:23:12.811> what's<00:23:12.973> going<00:23:13.167> to<00:23:13.200> happen,<00:23:13.717> you're<00:23:14.106> probably<00:23:14.591> lying.

00:23:15.092 --> 00:23:25.824
Now<00:23:16.224> that<00:23:16.482> said,<00:23:18.164> I'm<00:23:18.487> optimistic<00:23:20.168> about<00:23:20.669> the<00:23:20.831> direction<00:23:21.235> that<00:23:21.397> things<00:23:22.124> are<00:23:22.189> heading,<00:23:23.256> but<00:23:23.802> is<00:23:23.822> it<00:23:23.903> back<00:23:24.209> to<00:23:24.306> where<00:23:24.468> it<00:23:24.613> was<00:23:24.871> pre-pandemic?

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No,<00:23:26.567> not<00:23:26.744> a<00:23:26.809> chance.

00:23:28.569 --> 00:23:32.651
We're<00:23:29.328> still<00:23:29.634> seeing<00:23:30.038> the<00:23:30.696> sort<00:23:30.876> of<00:23:30.941> the<00:23:30.990> knock-on<00:23:31.527> effects<00:23:32.081> of<00:23:32.163> that.

00:23:32.879 --> 00:23:35.274
And,<00:23:33.873> and<00:23:34.020> I<00:23:34.117> think<00:23:34.345> we<00:23:34.443> will<00:23:34.606> for<00:23:34.769> some<00:23:35.013> time.

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Yeah.

00:23:37.298 --> 00:23:37.992
Yeah,<00:23:37.524> that's<00:23:37.701> interesting.

00:23:38.089 --> 00:23:39.203
Bill,<00:23:38.250> I<00:23:38.266> can't<00:23:38.428> thank<00:23:38.654> you<00:23:38.686> enough<00:23:38.977> for—.

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How's<00:23:39.558> that<00:23:39.671> for<00:23:39.881> a<00:23:39.897> vague<00:23:40.285> answer?

00:23:40.511 --> 00:23:41.092
I<00:23:40.592> loved<00:23:40.850> it.

00:23:41.237 --> 00:23:41.609
I<00:23:41.270> loved<00:23:41.560> it.

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That's<00:23:42.061> perfect.

00:23:43.962 --> 00:23:45.127
I<00:23:44.027> can't<00:23:44.253> thank<00:23:44.367> you<00:23:44.431> enough<00:23:44.577> for<00:23:44.674> coming<00:23:44.917> on.

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Seriously,<00:23:46.050> it's<00:23:46.471> an<00:23:46.600> honor<00:23:46.779> to<00:23:46.876> have<00:23:47.248> you.

00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:55.143
We<00:23:49.110> end<00:23:49.272> every<00:23:49.514> interview<00:23:49.773> the<00:23:49.838> same<00:23:50.097> way<00:23:50.421> at<00:23:50.518> CEO.com,<00:23:51.408> and<00:23:51.554> that<00:23:51.732> is<00:23:51.878> we<00:23:52.040> believe<00:23:52.282> the<00:23:52.363> chances<00:23:52.768> one<00:23:52.930> gives<00:23:53.108> are<00:23:53.173> just<00:23:53.304> as<00:23:53.483> important<00:23:53.841> as<00:23:53.971> the<00:23:54.069> chances<00:23:54.459> one<00:23:54.638> takes.

00:23:55.697 --> 00:24:00.685
When<00:23:55.924> you<00:23:56.087> hear<00:23:56.266> that,<00:23:56.738> who<00:23:57.064> comes<00:23:57.308> to<00:23:57.389> mind<00:23:57.650> that<00:23:57.796> gave<00:23:58.057> you<00:23:58.236> a<00:23:58.382> chance<00:23:59.448> to<00:23:59.530> get<00:23:59.761> you<00:23:59.844> to<00:23:59.943> where<00:24:00.174> you<00:24:00.355> are<00:24:00.504> today?

00:24:02.185 --> 00:24:03.275
Yeah,<00:24:02.445> it's<00:24:02.608> a<00:24:02.673> great<00:24:02.982> question.

00:24:03.324 --> 00:24:07.718
I<00:24:03.389> knew<00:24:03.487> you<00:24:03.552> were<00:24:03.633> going<00:24:03.698> to<00:24:03.877> ask<00:24:04.219> it<00:24:04.870> because<00:24:05.261> you<00:24:05.358> ask<00:24:05.667> it<00:24:05.765> in<00:24:05.993> all<00:24:06.156> of<00:24:06.270> your,<00:24:06.823> all<00:24:06.904> of<00:24:07.051> your<00:24:07.148> shows.

00:24:09.997 --> 00:24:12.169
I'd<00:24:10.318> have<00:24:10.560> to<00:24:10.640> say<00:24:10.833> it's<00:24:11.043> a<00:24:11.059> guy<00:24:11.220> named<00:24:11.461> Kip<00:24:11.702> Turco.

00:24:13.151 --> 00:24:19.026
He<00:24:13.473> is<00:24:13.698> a<00:24:13.795> partner<00:24:14.181> at<00:24:14.342> Avery<00:24:14.599> Partners,<00:24:15.307> our<00:24:15.645> private<00:24:15.951> equity<00:24:16.209> sponsor<00:24:18.124> here<00:24:18.236> at<00:24:18.430> NexusTech.

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And,<00:24:19.493> you<00:24:19.525> know,<00:24:19.670> 5<00:24:19.976> years<00:24:20.170> ago<00:24:21.427> when<00:24:21.604> they<00:24:21.749> had<00:24:21.910> a<00:24:21.926> need<00:24:22.249> for<00:24:22.813> a<00:24:22.877> first-time<00:24:23.377> CEO,<00:24:24.504> even<00:24:24.667> though<00:24:24.831> I<00:24:24.994> had<00:24:25.240> done<00:24:25.959> kind<00:24:26.074> of<00:24:26.139> CEO-like<00:24:26.940> roles,<00:24:27.349> run<00:24:27.611> large<00:24:27.938> business<00:24:28.265> units<00:24:28.673> for<00:24:28.821> other<00:24:29.957> larger<00:24:30.599> companies.

00:24:31.401 --> 00:24:33.101
I<00:24:31.481> hadn't<00:24:31.882> punched<00:24:32.139> the<00:24:32.299> ticket<00:24:32.845> yet.

00:24:33.326 --> 00:24:36.390
And,<00:24:34.625> and<00:24:34.770> he<00:24:34.866> gave<00:24:35.026> me<00:24:35.122> my<00:24:35.347> first<00:24:35.507> shot,<00:24:36.133> right?

00:24:36.470 --> 00:24:42.886
He<00:24:36.566> knew<00:24:36.855> that<00:24:36.967> I<00:24:37.111> had<00:24:38.218> what<00:24:38.330> it<00:24:38.475> took,<00:24:38.780> even<00:24:38.956> though<00:24:39.181> I<00:24:39.261> hadn't,<00:24:41.105> you<00:24:41.202> know,<00:24:41.266> I<00:24:41.426> hadn't<00:24:41.603> had<00:24:41.763> that<00:24:42.004> shot<00:24:42.325> before.

00:24:43.752 --> 00:24:48.628
And,<00:24:44.410> you<00:24:44.490> know,<00:24:44.955> what's<00:24:45.212> the,<00:24:45.597> what's<00:24:45.773> the<00:24:45.870> saying<00:24:46.319> is<00:24:46.720> luck<00:24:46.976> is<00:24:47.056> when<00:24:47.217> preparation<00:24:47.842> meets<00:24:48.083> opportunity.

00:24:49.607 --> 00:24:52.767
I<00:24:50.168> had<00:24:50.329> done<00:24:50.489> the<00:24:50.585> prep<00:24:50.826> work<00:24:51.628> and<00:24:51.772> he<00:24:51.853> gave<00:24:52.029> me<00:24:52.109> the<00:24:52.254> opportunity.

00:24:54.178 --> 00:24:54.483
That's<00:24:54.355> great.

00:24:54.596 --> 00:24:56.568
Bill,<00:24:54.836> thanks<00:24:55.141> again<00:24:55.462> so<00:24:55.654> much<00:24:55.959> for<00:24:56.103> coming<00:24:56.344> on.

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I'm<00:24:57.084> sure<00:24:57.149> we'll<00:24:57.377> have<00:24:57.475> you<00:24:57.573> back<00:24:57.817> on<00:24:57.980> again.

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Seriously,<00:24:58.795> it's<00:24:59.186> an<00:24:59.268> honor.

00:25:00.507 --> 00:25:01.142
Thanks,<00:25:00.898> Clint.

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Appreciate<00:25:01.648> it.