Welcome to Confessions of an Implementer, a podcast by Talent Harbor. We share unique stories of business implementers and the companies they’ve transformed to give you a rare glimpse into the system’s successes and challenges in action. I’m your host, Ryan Hogan. 

Let’s dive in!

Joining Ryan on this episode is Rick VanDermyden, a Certified EOS Implementer. Ryan and Rick dive into the critical importance of hiring the right people and building strong teams. Rick shares his experiences growing up in an entrepreneurial family and highlights the value of identifying and nurturing talent. They discuss the challenges of finding candidates with the right character and the significance of a thorough vetting process. 

Drawing from Rick’s time at Keller Williams Realty, they emphasize the necessity of cultural fit and the role of accountability in retaining top talent. The conversation also explores leadership principles, including trust, delegation, and fostering a positive work environment.

“Hiring for character is crucial. Talent can be trained, but poor character can be detrimental to the organization.” Rick VanDermyden

Rick grew up in an entrepreneurial household, which translates into being the cheapest labor available! From spending every school break on a tractor seat to handling sales and marketing for his dad’s development company, he experienced the successes and failures of an entrepreneurial business at an early age.

After a stint in corporate America, his passion for determining his own course took him back to his entrepreneurial roots. Leading five companies through the 2006-2009 real estate crash led to one spectacular failure, two that were saved after being on life support, and two that weathered the storm. The lessons learned during that time were both valuable and expensive.

Transitioning into an ownership position allowed him to pursue his passion for leadership development. Through leadership consulting, he was introduced to “Traction” by one of his leadership clients. The book provided an operating system to help entrepreneurs ACTUALLY implement the ideas that he had learned over the years.

EOS seamlessly combined his passions to not only develop better leaders but also help business leaders get what they want from their businesses—better yet, to help them create the life they’ve always wanted!

Listen here:

Apple: https://apple.co/3X2DJoT

Spotify: https://bit.ly/3yGpuwJ