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Are you an ambitious young entrepreneur? Do you consider yourself a role model and leader of tomorrow? If so, this is going to be the show for you. Leaders Of Tomorrow is a show dedicated young and ambitious entrepreneurs looking to forge their own path in this world. Each week, we will bring you an inspiring interview and share with you behind the scenes some of the values and beliefs of our 8-figure business; Student Works Management Program. From interviews with young millionaires and personal anecdotes from our head coach; Chris Thomson, this show will give you everything you need to know to become a Leader Of Tomorrow.
Episodes
Friday Mar 26, 2021
Friday Mar 26, 2021
On today’s show, we interview Vice President of Development for Student Works West, Jordan Kipnes who shares with us his distilled wisdom on business, scaling, and coaching.
Growing up, Jordan was always enterprising and had a big engine for work. However, he soon realized that working hourly jobs were not going to cut it. So, when he came across the Student Works opportunity, his interest was piqued immediately.
In his first years as painting business owners, Jordan hired his friends and relied on them to get the jobs done. While this strategy often backfires, it worked quite well for Jordan as he set the right expectations from the get-go.
In this first year, Jordan managed to earn a profit of $22,000 – a far cry from what he used to earn after going through the drudgery of hourly jobs.
In his fourth year with Student Works, Jordan eased into the role of a district manager and eventually ended up managing 30 franchise owners.
In September 2019, Jordan was promoted to VP for Western Canada. In his new role, Jordan is responsible for development, training, and business development throughout British Columbia and Alberta.
Jordan shares how he managed to finance his education from the earnings of his painting business. And how running a business alongside helped him extract more value from his business education.
As a coach and a mentor, Jordan reveals how focusing on the long term is helping him generate 10x returns as he is able to recruit great people purely on the basis of referrals.
Towards the end, you will learn about Jordan’s other business ventures where he has experienced varying degrees of success.
Enjoy!
What You Will Learn In This Show
- The Structure of Student Works and why it encourages training and development
- Unraveling my coaching philosophy
- Growing your business through referrals
- And so much more…
Resources
Tuesday Mar 23, 2021
Tuesday Mar 23, 2021
How do top performers get the slight edge that catapults them miles ahead of the competition?
On today’s show, we interview student painter, Hope DesRoche who shares with her distilled wisdom on excellence, confidence, and leadership. As of now, Hope has booked orders worth $500,000 and is on track to break the all-time record held by the incredible Amir Abu Shakra.
Before Student Works, admittedly Hope was frustrated living the life of a “typical twenty-year-old”. So, when she came across the Student Works opportunity, Hope was immediately stoked at the idea of embarking on an adventure.
Needless to say, when she signed up for Student Works, she had set big goals for herself. And even the pandemic could not deter her. Staying in a bubble meant working without a district manager. But we improvised with virtual support to ensure that Hope remained on track.
Speaking from her experience of running a painting business, Hope shares the importance of balancing optimism with realism. As entrepreneurs, we always see the glass as half full and have extreme confidence in our abilities.
However, a dose of realism can act as a safety net so that you can tide over difficult times.
Towards the end of the show, Hope shares some critical habits that are commonly found in leaders and top performers. Specifically, you will learn the importance of owning up to your bad habits and continuous improvement.
Enjoy!
What You Will Learn In This Show
- Learning to step into the unknown
- Goal-setting and other habits of top performers
- Balancing optimism with realism
- And so much more…
Resources
Friday Mar 19, 2021
Friday Mar 19, 2021
On today’s show, we interview Steve Macdonald, owner of high-end custom-home-builder, Patty Mac Inc. who shares with us his wisdom on entrepreneurship, management, and perseverance.
You will learn how Patty Mac has graduated from small, maintenance jobs to building million-dollar homes in a short span of time.
Back in college, admittedly, Steve was directionless and spent his days partying. Fortunately for him, he came he touch with Ryan who was running a thriving painting business with Student Works. Inspired by his friend, Steve also decided to go down the same path – a decision that set the tone for a brilliant career.
Looking back, Steve recalls how he learned the importance of stepping outside the comfort zone at Student Works.
After Student Works, Steve teamed up with his friend, Mike to start a property maintenance business. Over time, this business has evolved into a real estate design and development firm which clocked sales of $12 million last year.
So, what are some of the biggest reasons behind Patty Mac’s incredible growth?
One of the most important things that Steve attributes Patty Mac’s success to is stellar customer service. In fact, he shares how Patty Mac goes all out to ensure client happiness even if it means losing money on a job.
Additionally, Patty Mac has also invested in systems and processes so that the client can learn about the project status in real-time at the click of a button.
These efforts have paid off big time for them as Patty Mac generates 80% of their business through referrals.
Additionally, you will also learn how Patty Mac has managed to build and retain a dream team while ensuring a great team culture.
Running a capital-intensive business is a stressful experience, to say the least. And you also will get some excellent insights about managing cash flow and growth.
Tune in for some excellent insights!
What You Will Learn In This Show
- How I built my multi-million-dollar construction business
- Managing cash flow and how to finance a capital-intensive business
- Building a dream-team and how to ensure employee-retention
- How to ensure client satisfaction and happiness
- And so much more…
Resources
Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
On today’s show, we interview the founder of Ecsell Institute, Bill Eckstrom who shares with us his wisdom on coaching, reinvention, and growth.
Growing up, Bill was admittedly behaviourally challenged. He hated structure and classroom teaching. And so, it was of little surprise when Bill was kicked out of school in 7th grade. Even at that young age, Bill was admonished severely for his mistake.
Now, as an accomplished coach and successful entrepreneur, Bill calls out the societal tendency to frown upon mistakes, rather than encourage them.
Bill has spent his entire career in the growth and performance arena. Starting his career with a sales position in an insurance company, Bill went on to take senior leadership roles in medical equipment and healthcare companies.
And at the age of 47, driven by his passion for coaching, Bill founded Ecsell Institute.
On today’s show, you will learn the important attributes that make you a great coach. You will learn that you cannot grow your team unless you grow yourself.
Apart from investing in your personal growth, a coach also needs to work on building strong relationships. Doing so gives a coach the right to challenge somebody.
Watch out for the interesting parallels that Bill makes between entrepreneurs and athletes in today’s show.
Enjoy!
What You Will Learn In This Show
- Stepping out of your comfort zone and constantly challenging yourself
- Why constant reinvention is the only way forward
- What are some of the most important attributes found in great coaches?
- And so much more…
Resources
Friday Mar 12, 2021
Friday Mar 12, 2021
On today’s show, we interview Cory Bartrim, Vice President, Operations at Student Works who shares with us his distilled wisdom on collaboration, entrepreneurship, and organization. He also shares his biggest failures and some of the most important lessons that he has learned along the way.
Born in a blue-collar family, Cory always had a big engine for work. However, admittedly, he had little idea about his long-term goals and the direction in which his life was headed. While studying business at UNBC, he discovered the Student Works opportunity due to a chance meeting with a close friend of his.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
After two amazing years of franchising, Cory was offered the opportunity to work as a DM in Vancouver Island.
In his initial years at Student Works, Cory was mentored by Andrew who, almost became like a second father to him. You will learn how Cory has managed to forge life-long relationships that go well beyond the business at Student Works.
You will also get a “peek” into the Student Works model, and learn how the organization is set up to bring out the best in people.
Having been an intimate part of the business for 9 years, Cory shares how Student Works strives to achieve a fine balance of structure and flexibility. He also talks a bit about the nimbleness with which Student Works tweaked their hiring practices and sales processes in the wake of COVID.
We wrap up this show with Cory making some frank admissions about all the mistakes that he made early on in his career. Especially, he talks about being neck-deep in debt in his early thirties and how good counsel helped him nurse his finances back to health.
Having learned his lesson the hard way, Cory and his wife, Emily have managed to build up an enviable real estate portfolio over time.
This show is full of inspiring nuggets. Enjoy!
What You Will Learn In This Show
- A “peek” into Student Works model
- Why Student Works is designed to bring out the best in people
- Best organizational practices and achieving a balance between structure and flexibility
- Avoiding the common money mistakes that most people make early on in life
- And so much more…
Resources
Tuesday Mar 09, 2021
Tuesday Mar 09, 2021
On today’s show, we interview executive coach, keynote speaker, and renowned author, Todd Palmer who shares with us his distilled wisdom on grit, entrepreneurship, and mentorship.
Back in 1988, while Todd was still enrolled as an undergraduate the Eastern Michigan University, he took up a permanent teaching job at a community college. But just as things were looking up for Todd, he lost his job. And to make things worse, his personal life hit a rough patch as his marriage ended in a divorce.
A single father with no income, Todd decided to take the bull by its horns and start his own business in 2007. This, however, was easier said than done because he found that no banks were willing to back him up.
Fortunately for Todd, his mentor lent him $20K using which Todd bootstrapped his business – Diversified Industrial Staffing in 1997.
After two years of hyper-growth, Todd found himself saddled with $600,000 in debt. So, he had his elder brother step in as a mentor, and they mutually decided that some drastic measures were in order.
So, in 2006, he decided to completely restructure his business. And he started this process by firing his entire staff.
These efforts paid off big time as Todd’s business was featured in Inc. 5,000 Fastest-Growing list SIX (!) times in a row.
Despite his entrepreneurial success, Todd felt unfulfilled. At this juncture, he decided to pivot once again and don the hat of an executive coach. A sought-after thought leader in his field, Todd shares the importance of staying vulnerable and authentic.
Enjoy!
What You Will Learn In This Show
- How I made it to the Inc. 5,000 Fastest-Growing List after being saddled with $600,000 in debt
- Dealing with your imposter syndrome
- My ATV principle of coaching
- Opportunity in every tragedy – what my coach, Danny Friedland taught me about coping with death
- And so much more…
Resources
Friday Mar 05, 2021
Friday Mar 05, 2021
Ever wondered how successful entrepreneurs manage to pivot and survive massive economic downturns?
On today’s show, Hugh Owen, CEO, MacRAE'S and Scott's Directories brings to us his distilled wisdom on persistence and continuous learning.
Early on in his story, Hugh found himself lacking focus and just drifting through life. However, all this changed when he enrolled in the Student Works Management Program. The two years that he spent here honed his work ethic and introduced him to business at an early age.
After Student Works, he enrolled in the accountant training program at PWC which was admittedly a terrible choice. Hugh quit this program prematurely after eight months and went on to pursue his MBA at The University of Western Ontario.
Hugh got sucked into the world of business once he discovered how he could make money selling research papers. A publishing agreement with the Canadian Manufacturer’s Association was his first big break, and Hugh rapidly scaled up his print business in the pre-dot com era.
Hugh decided to sell his business and go work for Yellow Pages – a decision that he regrets to this day. Fortunately for him, he was able to purchase his business back at a fraction of the cost after the dot com bubble burst.
Hugh has since managed to successfully pivot from print to digital. He has branched out into digital marketing, and also set up an operational base in India.
You will also learn how Hugh has ensured continuous learning over the years by enrolling in programs at Ivey and Harvard Business School.
Enjoy!
What You Will Learn In This Show
- How to stand out in a commoditized market
- Importance of continuous and lifelong learning
- Showing grit in the face of adversity
- And so much more…
Resources
Tuesday Mar 02, 2021
Tuesday Mar 02, 2021
On today’s show, we interview American Canadian swimming coach and former Olympian, Byron MacDonald who shares with us the key attributes of world-class athletes.
Byron won six international game medals for Canada from 1970 to 1975. He finishes sixth in the 100 m butterfly at the 1972 Olympics.
In 1976, Byron started his coaching career with the York University in Toronto. Over the years, two of MacDonald’s swimmers have won Olympic medals – the most recent one being by Kylie Masse at the 2016 Olympics.
You will get a peek into Byron’s coaching methodology in the next segment of the show. Compared to many other sports like football and basketball, swimming is more of an individualized sport. But team dynamics still play an important role.
Drawing from his plethora of experience, Byron shares his take on what sets the best athletes apart. You will learn that while talent is important, what truly matters is preparation and confidence.
We also have an interesting discussion on why a large percentage of elite athletes go on to become successful entrepreneurs as well. Like in sports, success in business also requires grit, patience, and hardcore work ethic.
You will also learn how the pandemic has impacted the Olympic preparations for 2021. Because Canada was one of the countries that enforced a strict lockdown, elite swimmers could not train at their facilities for 14 weeks.
Byron shares how the Canadian athletes improvised and trained in their backyard pools in this interim period.
What You Will Learn In This Show
- Key attributes of world-class athletes
- Drawing parallels between sports and business
- How is the national Canadian swimming team training for Olympics 2021?
- Is swimming a team sport?
- And so much more….
Resources
Friday Feb 26, 2021
Friday Feb 26, 2021
Ever wondered how successful real estate developers manage the different moving parts to ensure the successful fruition of large multi-million-dollar projects?
On today’s show, we interview Craig Whitten, partner, Huntington Properties who shares with us his thoughts on core values, business strategy, and growth.
Growing up, Craig was independent-minded and success-motivated. So, when he went through the Student Works internship, this further stoked his passion for business. Here, he got some lifelong lessons and transferable lessons in relationship-building and work ethic.
After graduating from the University of Waterloo, Craig worked for a home renovations company for a while before the company went under due to a lack of systems and farsightedness. So, in 2010, Craig became the fourth employee to join his father’s syndication business.
Craig and his team have since significantly expanded their operations as they are developing/managing large multi-million dollar commercial as well as real estate properties.
In this next segment of the show, you will get an interesting peek into the operations of Craig’s business, Huntington Properties. You will learn how they scout out feasible locations for their forthcoming projects. And how they find the right investors and tenants to bring a project to successful fruition.
We also have an interesting discussion on brick & mortar vs. online. Craig shares why, inspite of all the hoopla surrounding online/eCommerce, brick and mortar is here to stay. And you will learn how Craig’s business is pivoting to develop projects that are more aligned with tenant requirements in the post-pandemic world.
Enjoy!
What You Will Learn In This Show
- Why brick and mortar retail is here to stay inspite of all the hoopla about online
- How retail developers are pivoting in the wake of the pandemic
- How to navigate the different peaks and troughs in a business
- Getting the right anchor tenants to ensure the success of a commercial real estate development
- And so much more…
Resources
Tuesday Feb 23, 2021
Tuesday Feb 23, 2021
What is the one thing that can help businesses unlock massive value?
On today’s show, we talk to leading M&A advisor, Michelle Tucker who shares some expert tips to help you get your dream exit. And you will also learn the SIX Mistakes that businesses make due to which they are unable to stand the test of time.
Michelle has also co-authored The Exit Rich Book along with Sharon Lechter of Rich Dad, Poor Dad fame.
One of the biggest mistakes that businesses make is that they fail to plan for their exit.
Michelle points out that businesses should be thinking of making an exit when the business is firing on all six cylinders and raking in the moolah. But, typically, businesses do not start planning for an exit unless they have their backs against the wall – and selling is the only viable option.
As an expert M&A advisor, Michelle calls out the SIX common mistakes that businesses make. She calls it her six P’s. You will learn how Michelle evaluates a business based on these SIX P’s to determine the biggest threats that can cause a business to fold up.
Enjoy
What You Will Learn In This Show
- Expert tips for exiting big
- Six Ps’ to evaluate a business
- AIM – Always, Innovate, and Market to stand the test of time
- Why you need an outsider’s perspective to see the big picture
- And so much more…
Resources