Decision State with Joe Steele

A concern was there before the contract was signed.Rob Broadhead had worked with the contractor before. The relationship was good. The project looked viable. The timing was right. And when the questions started showing up, he chose to trust rather than push harder.A few months later, the missing work surfaced.The result wasn't just rework. It became hundreds of unbilled hours, opportunity cost across the business, delayed growth, and a project that pulled people into work they never should have been doing.This conversation is about the window between seeing something and naming it out loud — and what it costs when the relationship makes that window wider than it should be.Guest LinksWebsite:rb-sns.comLinkedIn:linkedin.com/in/robbroadheadIf you recognized something in this episode — joesteele.com.Follow Decision State on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.Chapters00:00 — We Wanted It To Work01:02 — Trusting The Wrong Signals05:12 — Assumptions Create Expensive Problems11:04 — How The Opportunity Appeared14:20 — The Porsche Problem16:20 — Why He Never Pushed Harder19:48 — The First Real Red Flag20:53 — When The Team Found It22:33 — Realizing The Cost24:15 — Opportunity Cost Spreads28:14 — Looking Back33:41 — The Silent Failures36:14 — Where To Find Rob

In this episode, host Joe Steele sits down with Wayne Mullins, the innovative Founder and CEO of Ugly Mug Marketing, to discuss the philosophy of prioritizing results over aesthetics. This episode delves into Wayne's unconventional approach to marketing as well as his own journey from business to business as a serial entrepreneur. Wayne shares his journey of building a successful marketing firm, the core principles behind Ugly Mug Marketing, and real-world examples of how focusing on effectiveness has driven remarkable success for his clients. Tune in to learn why sometimes the best strategies aren't the prettiest and how embracing a results-oriented mindset can revolutionize your marketing efforts. Whether you're a marketer, business owner, or just intrigued by innovative approaches, this episode offers valuable insights and practical advice. 02:00 - Entrepreneurial Beginnings 03:40 The Importance of Perseverance 05:00 - Lawn Care Business 06:50 - Selling a Business 08:15 - Family Concerns for a Business Owner 09:30 - Transitioning to a New Industry 10:00 - The Answer Was Marketing 12:50 - “No One Believed It Would Work For Them” 16:00 - “Sell People What They Want and Give Them What They Need” 18:30 - When It Clicked 21:00 - Results Over Aesthetics 22:25 - “I Want My Team to Be the Experts” 23:35 - Bringing on a Team 27:30 - You Can Build Something of Worth Wherever You Are 29:50 - People at the Top Are Curious 31:45 - Wayne’s Impact 33:25 - What Do I Need to Start Working on Today 35:20 - Watching Others Learn to Lead 37:55 - Wayne’s Biggest Weakness 39:20 - What’s Next for Wayne and UglyMug 40:50 - Connect with Wayne Show Resources: www.uglymugmarketing.com/ www.instagram.com/fireyourself/ Get Joe’s Ultimate Guide to Real Estate Investing: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YrkcRDMxHZgJl5WUfJ4HEUZBWHM4twWx/view?usp=drive_link⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, host Joe Steele welcomes Valerie Trapunsky, the dynamic CEO and Founder of Chatterboss, to discuss the transformative power of delegation. This episode delves into Valerie's journey of building a successful business that helps entrepreneurs and executives manage their workloads more effectively. Valerie shares her expertise on the importance of delegation for personal and professional success, offering practical advice on how to identify tasks to delegate and build a reliable support system. Tune in to learn how embracing delegation can lead to greater productivity, innovation, and overall well-being, whether you're a seasoned executive or just starting out. 02:20 - From Personal Assistant to Entrepreneur 06:30 - “The World Opens Up When We’re Honest With Ourselves” 09:15 - The Beginnings of a Business 12:15 - Starting On Your Own 14:00 - A Little Foresight, But a Lot of Luck 15:30 - Building Branding 18:25 - How Chatterboss Let Entrepreneurs Focus on Their Best Work 20:30 - Trusting Delegation 24:55 - “We Cannot Succeed Alone” 27:40 - “We’re Wired for Emergencies” 30:30 - Delegation Nation 34:30 - Mentorship 36:25 - Early Misconceptions 38:15 - Valerie’s Aspirations 40:20 - Connect with Valerie Show Resources: www.chatterboss.com/ www.linkedin.com/in/valerietrapunskydelegationexpert/ Get Joe’s Ultimate Guide to Real Estate Investing: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YrkcRDMxHZgJl5WUfJ4HEUZBWHM4twWx/view?usp=drive_link⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, host Joe Steele sits down with Katrina Owens, the visionary founder of Knockout Directive PR firm, to explore the art of shaping stories and building influential brands. Katrina shares her journey from launching her own PR firm to becoming a leading force in the industry. She delves into the strategies and insights that have driven her success, including the importance of authenticity, creativity, and strategic communication. Tune in to discover how Katrina is bringing the power of PR to even small businesses, crafting compelling narratives, and helping her clients achieve remarkable visibility and impact. Whether you're in PR, marketing, or just interested in the power of storytelling, this episode offers a wealth of inspiration and expertise. 01:55 - How Katrina Fell in Love with PR 05:20 - Leaving a “Dream Job” 08:30 - Fears for Entrepreneurship 10:40 - Securing Options 12:40 - Bark.com 15:40 - A Holistic Approach to Marketing & PR 19:35 - Knockout Directive 24:50 - Leveraging Social Media to Grow Your Business 27:25 - Sharing Value 29:20 - A Strong Commitment to Transparency 33:30 - A Day in the Life 36:50 - “I Said Yes to Everything” 39:30 - Debt as Investment 44:15 - Leading with “Soft Skills” 47:15 - Empowering 100 Small Businesses with the Power of PR 50:05 - Speaking Engagements 53:00 - Work Life Boundaries 54:30 - Connect with Katrina Show Resources: www.knockoutdirective.com/www.linkedin.com/in/owenskatrina/www.instagram.com/knockoutdirective/ Get Joe’s Ultimate Guide to Real Estate Investing: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YrkcRDMxHZgJl5WUfJ4HEUZBWHM4twWx/view?usp=drive_link⁠⁠⁠

In this inspiring episode, host Joe Steele engages in a profound conversation with Hunter Burkey, a resilient entrepreneur who has mastered the art of finding opportunity in obstacles. Hunter shares his remarkable journey, detailing how he transformed challenges into stepping stones for success. From early setbacks to breakthrough moments, Hunter's story is a testament to the power of perseverance and innovation. He offers practical advice on navigating adversity, adapting to change, and seizing unexpected opportunities. Whether you're facing your own challenges or seeking motivation to overcome them, this episode provides valuable insights and encouragement to turn obstacles into opportunities. 01:55 - Hunter’s Upbringing 03:15 - Work Struggles 07:30 - The Entrepreneurial Bug 09:25 - The Valet Business 14:00 - Scaling from Employee to Entrepreneur 20:45 - Branching into Private Security 26:25 - Building New Markets 28:10 - How COVID Exploded the Security Business 32:15 - Selling the Dream to Others 34:40 - Adding Education 38:15 - What’s Next for Hunter? 41:15 - Advice for Budding Entrepreneurs 44:30 - Connect with Hunter Show Resources: nxtlvlsecurity.com/www.linkedin.com/in/hunter-burkey-b664ba13b/www.instagram.com/hunterburkey29/ Get Joe’s Ultimate Guide to Real Estate Investing: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YrkcRDMxHZgJl5WUfJ4HEUZBWHM4twWx/view?usp=drive_link⁠⁠⁠