If you're struggling through your first day back at work after the long holiday weekend, this awesome video my daughter Reagan made is sure to put a smile on your face!

 

 

 

I was in Iowa last week on business and was able to have a great dinner with my parents & brother Greg at the newly renovated Red Crow Grille. If you are in the area, you should definitely check it out! www.redcrowgrille.com

With all the technology gizmos and gadgets, it’s refreshing to see a couple of my children with actual paper-bound books!

Woman pulled from house fire by neighbors

 

 

My step-son was one of the men that went into the burning home to save that woman. Very proud of him for being so brave!

The Difference Between a Boss and a Leader

Always strive to be a great leader!

Check out these photos!

 

 

The one on the left is me, about 6 months old, and the other is my son Lincoln, also about 6 months old, wearing the same exact outfit.  So neat my parents kept the outfit after all these years!  Family is a wonderful thing.

 

Ryan Poterack is the proud father of 3 daughters and 1 son.

Ryan Poterack - Interview Part 5

Recently, I was interviewed by business coach Charrise McCrorey. Below is an excerpt of the interview, I thought you may enjoy:

Charrise McCrorey:  You’ve discussed the benefits of creating this type of culture as it relates to you in the way you like to lead and manage.  What’s in it for the employees?  What are the benefits to them?  In what ways does your culture create a good place to work?  How does it serve your employee base?

Ryan Poterack:  Oh my gosh, it’s the least stressful way to work!  If new employees have the courage and emotional intelligence to recognize we simply mean exactly what we’re saying, then it’s simple to fit in and a shortcut to trust.  We don’t have any wasted stress on “what does he really mean?”  We don’t have any stupid politics or silliness going on like we’re back in junior high school. 

This culture provides employees tremendous freedom to communicate opinions and ideas knowing they will be respected.  However, just because we create an environment for open discussion doesn’t mean we are going to act on every opinion.  Everyone retains the right to be incorrect.  This culture is counter to society generally, and often business specifically.  Challenging the status quo, in the corporate world, is often discouraged.  Additionally, an opinion or idea that is determined to be unhelpful by corporate management, may reflect negatively on the employee who offered the feedback. 

The act of providing ideas and opinions should be rewarded.  It may take courage initially but the more emotionally intelligent the person is, the quicker they will recognize what behavior is rewarded and why.  Working with others in this culture becomes easy.  Consistency of behavior allows each employee to know the consequences of their behavior or decisions prior to the behavior or decisions.  

Ryan Poterack was interviewed by business coach Charrise McCrorey as part of a discovery process for a book.

Ryan Poterack - Interview Part 4

An interesting question I have been asked before is: “ Ryan Poterack, in terms of leadership, how do you believe you are viewed as a leader by your employees?”

My first thought is you should ask them.  My opinion could be completely irrelevant because it’s not the truth, it is a perspective.  I would think my consistent behavior, like it or not, would be respected for its consistency.  I believe my employees view me as a principled leader.  

My style may appear at times to be distant, aloof, or be intimidating to new employees who have not seen me in enough scenarios to appreciate my behavioral consistency.  Employees probably struggle with my directness and candor.  I do not curse or raise my voice when making a point. 

I rarely express a viewpoint without having thought about it thoroughly.  If challenged, I will have robust answers to support my viewpoint.  This can be intimidating to an employee who is concerned their opinion may not be supported by an equal amount of thought.  I cannot think differently.  I would hope my approach leads employees to slow down a bit and think clearly about their communication.     

It isn’t possible for me to work with others and not do everything I can to improve the employee as a person.  I would hope I’m viewed as seeking excellence, fair, compassionate and generous.

Ryan Poterack is a businessman located in North Carolina.  He enjoys speaking and writing about a variety of topics.

Ryan Poterack - Interview Part 3

As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, I was recently interviewed by a business coach. It was an enjoyable process, and I wanted to share another excerpt of the interview. I thought you may find this stimulating:

Charrise McCrorey:  How do you instill your vision – particularly with new people as they come in?  In what way do you provide them with guidance so that their actions align with your vision?

Ryan Poterack:  It all boils down to truth and consistency. My behavior is extremely consistent with our core values and this consistency demonstrates what is acceptable in the firm and our culture.  In terms of my actions towards a new employee, it is important to be extremely direct.  This is an efficient use of time and questions provide an opportunity to see how forthright an employee’s answer is. 

If I don’t get a direct answer to a question, I will make it very clear, in a respectful way, what my question was by repeating the question.  This doesn’t need to happen more than a two or three times, before there is an understanding of this expectation; When I ask a question,  I expect to receive an answer to the question.  If a new employee is uncomfortable with this straightforward way of communicating then we do not have a good cultural fit.

If the new employee has personal confidence and is aware of the behavior in our firm being consistent with our Vision, Mission Statement, and Core Values then they will quickly assimilate successfully.  I intend to interact with a new employee in the same way I interact with an employee that’s been with us for years.  I discuss in the interviewing process; the day I hire you, I want 100% of you and by 100% I mean when you observe something you don’t understand or think is being done improperly it’s your responsibility to communicate it.  If the new employee has a creative idea, then I expect them to share it even on day one.  It is not correct to think; I’m the new person so I probably shouldn’t speak up.

A new employee has what I will never possess again; a first impression of my business and my team.  I promote the value of their naïve opinion about my business and actively solicit feedback.  If I don’t get feedback, I’m going to start poking around.  What do you think of that; What do you think of this?  It’s not easy for someone to provide me with an inauthentic answer.  I either get an authentic answer or I get a reasonable response, such as “That’s an interesting question Ryan, can I think about it and get back to you with an answer?”  If I get fluff, vague or they complement me – in an authentic or inauthentic way, I’m going to ask more specific questions.

Consistency of behavior in every day interactions breeds trust as expectations are consistently met.  New employees learn what is acceptable in a firm by what they see and experience more than what they hear. 

Ryan Poterack was interviewed by business coach Charrise McCrorey as part of a discovery process for a book.

9 Questions by Ryan Poterack

Recently a friend of mine sent me an email asking these 9 questions.  I enjoyed answering them, so I figured I would add them to this blog.  

1.       What is your favorite book & why?  I find the Bible to be a reassuring guide on how to live productively.  For business, the E-Myth was a book that had an impact on the way I viewed entrepreneurial endeavors.

2.      What inspires Ryan Poterack?  People who are passionate, professional and generous in what they do.

3.      What is your earliest childhood memory? The crib.  Playing with mobiles and pretending I was asleep.

4.      How do you handle stress?  Workout and mentally slow down by taking stock of what is good in my life.

5.      When are you the most relaxed? When I’m helping people and spending time with family and friends.

6.      What are your pet peeves?  Inauthentic communication. Poor service.  People who belittle others.

7.      What draws you to someone?  Sincerity. 

8.     What is the thing you, Ryan Poterack, get complimented on the most?  Ability to explain complex topics simply.

9.      What do you get criticized about the most?  I ask a lot of questions.

Ryan Poterack Interview - Part 2

I was recently interviewed by a business coach.  It was an enjoyable process, and I wanted to share an excerpt of the interview.  I thought you may find interesting:

Charrise McCrorey:  Let’s talk about fear and its relationship with the culture you have built in your companies.  In what ways do you combat fear?  Work associates may come to the table afraid a lot of times.  How do you help them with the fear of being wrong, of not knowing the answers to the questions you ask?

Ryan Poterack:  Fear usually manifests itself when the associate is coasting in neutral…in other words, not participating.  The person in a meeting not asking questions; not throwing out ideas; not challenging old ideas is simply coasting in neutral.  To put it quite simply, I just don’t allow this type of behavior. 

This doesn’t have to happen too many times to recognize a problem.  It’s not an ambush, but if you’re sitting there quietly while the group is engaged in discussion; I will turn and ask “Charrise, what do you think?”  If the person is clearly not engaged, I’m going to get in their proverbial face about it.  I have to assume they are paying attention even if they are fearful and not wanting to engage in the discussion.  I must believe they are paying attention otherwise I’m wasting money and they shouldn’t be in the room. 

I know this can come off as tough but in practice, I’m only considered tough by people who don’t have the business’s best interest in mind.  Associates should recognize pretty quickly there is a whole lot more to fear with non-participation. It also takes a lot more energy trying to avoid getting engaged than it does to interact, take a risk, and just lay it all out there.

Ryan Poterack was interviewed by business coach Charrise McCrorey as part of a discovery process for a book.

Ryan Poterack Interview

Recently, I was interviewed by business coach Charrise McCrorey.  Below is an excerpt of the interview, I thought you may enjoy:

Charrise McCrorey:  What is the process for finding and hiring people that are a cultural fit when you have a new position available?

Ryan Poterack:  My first thought is I’ve got to have a good feeling in my gut.  Some may think that’s not transferrable, I think it is absolutely transferrable.  Every single person on the planet gets a gut visceral reaction when they come into contact with another individual in some fashion – phone, in-person, whatever –and if that gut reaction really has any negativity to it, I believe you should probably just turn the page and say next. 

In most cases though, gut reaction is a neutral or a positive.  Personally, I have a vision, mission, and core values that guide me…they are the basis for all of my hiring decisions.  Being very straightforward with people in a first interview about those core values - particularly in the area of candor and personal responsibility - and challenging them on those values, is very important.   I also ask many question that don’t  turn up on typical interviews.  It’s not the answer that I’m focused on; it’s how quickly and how sincerely they answer the question.  Their reaction more than their actual answer means a lot to me.

If a person answers my question with a question of their own….well, that gains a little more of my respect!  Not only is answering a question with a question a way to validate the understanding, but, if done properly, it complements the person asking the question.  It can also buy the person time to formulate their decision –and that can be done in an instant, in 5 to 7 seconds and tells me that this person knows how to communicate and interact in a way that I would define as thinking correctly.  I pay attention to confidence and eye contact and all that stuff but in the end, it comes down to – really – can they handle surprise and chaos?  If so, we may have a winner. 

Ryan Poterack is a business owner located in Charlotte, NC.

Ryan Poterack Writes About Faith & Hypocrisy

Many of us are familiar with a politician, evangelist or business leader which has spoken about their faith and values only to commit an act inconsistent with their faith and values.  This solicits many to cite hypocrisy and condemn the individual strongly.  Is this personal failing hypocritical?  I believe it depends.

While there are many different faiths; my faith, and most faiths, readily admit their followers will fall short of perfect in their faith.  This is widely accepted and sets an ideal standard of right and wrong behavior which cannot be met by anyone indefinitely.  Whether you agree with the faith or not, this is a central tenet of most faiths.  If a person promotes and accurately speaks of their faith and then fails to live up to their faith, which is expected by the faith, then I do not view this necessarily as hypocritical. 

After a personal failing, that individual is contrite, accepts personal responsibility without excuses, they are acting as their faith would support and frankly expect.  If a person speaks as if they are not subject to the standards of their faith while others are, this is hypocrisy.  What about those quick to condemn others?  Does their faith or, in the absence of faith, their values condone denigrating others?  Are those on the attack and condemning others acting hypocritical?

Consistently live your values and when you fail, accept responsibility and learn from your failing.  Take every opportunity to love and forgive.  This will soften the rough edges of life and will be well received by all, regardless of faith or values.

Ryan Poterack is a born-again Christian, which guides his writing and decisions.

Want Jobs? Policy Matters. – A blog by Ryan Poterack

Business owners hire people because their business requires a particular skill or help.  The decision may be based on replacing a person who left or seeking to grow.  Whatever the reason, the business owner has decided hiring someone makes financial sense.  After all, if it didn’t make financial sense the business owner would suffer the most and the survival of the business (and its employees) could be put at risk.

Government leaders these days speak as if business owners should hire for the betterment of the country.  Is it patriotic to hire?  Are businesses an extension of government and its policies?  The words and actions from Washington DC, especially in the light of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), seem to put forth a belief that business owners should blindly go along with government policies as if there is not cause and effect.  It goes like this: Raising taxes won’t reduce hiring.  Raising the cost of benefits won’t reduce hiring.  Increasing regulations won’t reduce hiring.  Changing laws and regulations unpredictably and often won’t reduce hiring.

It is profoundly puzzling to me that our elected leaders, the best we have to offer as a country, do not understand how business works.  If you increase cost or simply take money away from a business, then there is less money to hire, grow or otherwise take entrepreneurial risk with.  Government will insist, with a straight face, the impact is minor.  This is a point of view happy when there is no loss.  It is not a point of view championing growth and all its possibilities.  Our countries best and brightest are often entrepreneurs who will find a way to succeed despite government obstacles.  However, the definition of success is dampened.  At some level, for all of us, enough is enough whether based on achievement, money, et al.  Increasing the burden placed on successful business owners brings this level, at which it doesn’t make sense to do more, downward. 

Taxes, benefit costs and requirements, as well as regulation all increase as a business is more successful.  Business owners who are not successful don’t experience as many burdens.  If you fail; you don’t make a profit (less taxes) and you don’t grow (avoid ACA requirements).  There are others who argue the government knows better.  One key ingredient missing from their argument is business ownership on their resume.

Ryan Poterack is a business owner residing in Charlotte, NC.

Investing in Our Future? – A blog post by Ryan Poterack

Full disclosure on Ryan Poterack’s, education: I obtained a BBA in Finance from Iowa State University in 1990 and have completed continuing education annually to maintain licenses for my career.  Ryan Poterack has also gained education through the school of Hard Knocks by starting three businesses from scratch.

The education, development and preparedness of our children is usually referred to as an investment in our country’s future.  This is a view that nearly everyone can agree on.  However, there should be a great deal of debate regarding how we invest, as a society, in our youth.

Do our schools prepare children to be welders, website designers, nannies, personal trainers, servers, mortgage brokers, entrepreneurs, and many other careers we all interact with every day?  The answer in many cases is no.  Our children are not taught how to balance a checkbook, compare mortgages, complete a tax return, or many other important activities they’ll be required to do to succeed in life.  Our schools do not typically teach our children how to shake hands correctly, use good eye contact or other key protocols needed to complete a successful job interview.

Many of our country’s schools have experienced snow days this winter.  These schools, often by law, have to make these days up.  Think about this.  School completion is based on time, not on skills developed!  The classroom “investment” moves along at the speed of the slowest student.  The slowest student in one subject may be the fastest student in another subject or brilliant in areas not even covered by our traditional bricks and mortar schools.  We invest in time spent, not outcomes. 

The number of children being homeschooled in the United States is exploding.  If you homeschool your child, you are still paying tax dollars to teach others in public school.  When public schools receive your money even when you do the work, then what pressure is there for the school to improve their product?  According to the U.S. Census Bureau, education spending in our nation’s schools was $10,560 per student in 2011. 

Imagine the possibilities if every student had the choice of how to invest their ten grand every year!    

Ryan Poterack resides in Charlotte, NC.  He is the proud father of 4 children ranging in ages from 1 to 18.

What outcome should education support? | Ryan Poterack Blog

Webster’s dictionary definition of education is: “the action or process of teaching someone especially in a school, college, or university”. 

I suspect that definition was the same 10, 20, even 30+ years ago.  Education supports outcomes sought by those seeking it.  A better career; personal fulfillment; prerequisite for promotion and many other outcomes are achieved through education.

However, the concept of having to sit in a bricks & mortar classroom at well-defined times to be taught extemporaneously by a teacher as an example of “especially in a school, college, or university” may go the way of the hardcopy newspaper.  The internet has provided awesome educational resources that may be accessed 24/7 at nearly zero cost to the educated.  Kindle and other E-readers have changed the way we read books.  The cost of a university education begs the question of whether or not there is value.  I am well aware of the studies indicating the relationship between higher education and career income.  I am questioning the delivery system of education.

Many educational topics do not change much.  Why should a person have to sit through a math lecture at 9:00 am on Tuesday versus having the lecture accessible through webinar.  The webinar lecture could be accessible 24/7 and retained indefinitely.  No further effort on behalf of the educator, yet the value would continue to be provided.  Khan Academy ( www.khanacademy.org  ) is example of a low cost educational distribution source.  You may learn various levels of math, science, finance, history, etc. within your schedule and at your pace. 

You either know something or you do not.  How you obtained the education to know what you know shouldn’t matter.  This provides the key obstacle to the expansion of free and low-cost convenient education.  A traditional brick and mortar degree has been a stamp of approval indicating you know stuff whether or not you actually do know your stuff!  Online education is not currently afforded the blind accreditation a university education is.  This is changing and will create tremendous efficiencies as our country transitions away from the industrial revolution to a technology-based work environment. 

As with any change, there are powerful forces resisting changes in where we obtain education .  If you are a teacher who’s been paid to conduct your class multiple times per day over years, then you may be uncomfortable with the concept of conducting this class once (recorded and accessible online).  This teacher would have to come up with new and innovative content for the next class. 

It’s difficult to be against more and varied access to education.  The clear winner is the student.  Anyone wanting to learn any topic throughout their life may now do so easily and economically.  This will bring accountability to how much value a live interaction with a teacher provides.  Great teachers will always provide great value.  Certain topics lend themselves to live teaching more than others.  Teachers who punch a clock and are glorified sitters might want to seek further education.

Ryan Poterack began this blog in January 2014.  He resides in Charlotte, NC.  Ryan Poterack enjoys discussing and debating a variety of topics, and is known for often taking a contrarian stance just for the sport of it.  :)

Ryan Poterack’s 15-month old son goes to the moon!

Recently my daughter Reagan produced a “movie trailer” about sending little brother Lincoln to the moon.  I wanted to share the video with you in the hopes it may raise a smile or two.  Reagan has always been extremely creative and artistic, but it truly is amazing what children can do with technology these days!  Reagan used the iMovie application and was not assisted.  She used pictures and chose sound and effects on her own.  This has opened my eyes to using this technology in my own workplace to promote events and such.  I am grateful that I am able to find inspiration all around me.

Watch the video here:


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Ryan Poterack Discusses Experience

24 years ago this Spring, I entered the “real world” after college.  I had my degree, was eager to succeed, and had a good work ethic.  I had no experience.  Did my earliest clients receive good value?  I believe so.  Do my clients today receive more value?  Absolutely.  There is no comparison between the advisor I am today and the advisor I was two decades ago.  This significant difference is very apparent when I coach younger advisors in my industry.  However, like everything in life, there are benefits and limitations to the value of experience. 

Experience related to circumstances which will repeat, particularly often, is very valuable because many situations or problems can be anticipated.  Experience may also be relied on too often and detract from someone’s appetite to learn or take a “fresh look” at opportunities or problem solving.  Ask yourself this question; If you were going in to have important surgery done, would you prefer the surgeon to be 35, 50 or 65 years old?  There can be a balance between experience and innovation and there is no wrong answer to the question I pose.  It really depends on what you value.  Strong integrity and committed work ethic are difficult to train or learn through experience.  Ideally, you work with experienced professionals which are still passionate about their work and continually challenge the status quo. 

Faith and Other Untouchable Topics by Ryan Poterack

You should never discuss religion or politics.”  Today, there seems to be many issues we should never discuss; race, gay marriage, gun control, abortion, diet, how to raise children and many others.  The societal view of many topics has drifted from black & white to gray.  This has often led to more nuanced and thoughtful discussions.  However, it has also led to a polarized construct in which people on either side of an issue are intolerant of others that are “racist”, “bigoted”, “judgmental” or simply “wrong”.

Herein lies significant opportunity for growth.  Regardless of your view on any touchy topic, it’s your view which is unlikely to change.  Since you know what you think, save your energy talking about what you think and seek to understand what others think.  Nobody actively believes they are wrong in their own view.  Therefore it can be far more interesting to actively listen to why someone has their viewpoint especially if it contradicts your viewpoint.

The opportunity for growth lies in the discipline required to listen and understand the reasoning of an opinion contrary to your own.  Often we are not listening because we are formulating our retort as the other speaks.  When this is occurring at the same time between two people, nothing is accomplished and both typically feel worse after the interaction.  Active listening requires questioning with a neutral tone designed to better understand how the other person reaches their opinion, even if you completely disagree.  The stronger you disagree with a contrary opinion, the more discipline it takes. 

I challenge you to seek different outcomes when controversial topics come up.  It is very unlikely the person bringing the topic up will be interested in your opinion other than as fodder for attack.  Therefore, you neutralize the situation by demonstrating interest in the other person who will most likely be eager to share why they feel the way they do.  Once they are talked out, you will have established a level of behavioral listening, beneficial to you in itself, which may be mirrored by the other person.    

New Beginning for a New Year

Hello! My name is Ryan Poterack and this is my blog. Today I am going to share with you some news about myself and my family, as well as some information about the new year. Dawn and I welcomed our son, Lincoln Oliver Poterack, into the world on November 10, 2012. Our healthy baby is now over 1 year old and has a world of opportunities in his future. What will he become? Is he right or left handed? Will he enjoy reading and the arts like big sister Reagan? Will he be a tortured Minnesota Viking fan like Pops? His life is a clean slate.

This is the time of year when many of us take stock of our lives, remember love ones lost and make commitments to improve. We all have a choice to start anew every day. We cannot change the past. We can absolutely affect our future and the future of others.  Many people say they “shoulda woulda coulda” done many things differently. Regardless of how you got to this point, here you are. It is now up to you to choose your future. It is never too late to make good decisions.

Helping people make better decisions is my passion. I recently had an interesting conversation with a woman in my office. She said several times she didn’t want to waste my time with her concerns. She also mentioned she was a person of committed faith. My faith as a born-again Christian, leads me to help people so I asked her if she liked to help people. She readily answered “yes” and commented she felt good when she is able to help others. My response was telling her to stop worrying about wasting my time, and allow me to feel good by helping her. She laughed so I took the liberty of saying she shouldn’t be selfish and let me share in the helping people goodwill feeling!

Actions always mean more to me than words. If a person says they like to help others, then that same person should appreciate the effort of others to help them. Oddly, many people resist help from others for many reasons. Helping others is noble. However, as a contrarian, I’d like to challenge everyone to be more accepting of this noble gesture of help in the new year.

I encourage all of you to shake thing(s) up this year and start fresh! Your diet, your exercise, the hobby you always thought about, have or adopt a baby, etc. Seek help from others who would enjoy seeing you succeed! Status quo is for the status quo! Boring.  Have a wonderful 2014!