Learn how John Ratliff drove employee engagement through focussing on culture and how that multiplied the value of his business long term

Sparks by Ignium

In this episode of Sparks by Ignium Phil Rose talks in-depth to John Ratliff. John built, scaled and exited Appletree Answers as a 23 year old in his back room to an international business with 650 employees for a multiple 5 times that of other similar businesses. He first met Verne Harnish in 2005 as part of the Birthing of Giants programme. He is now the CEO of Align 5 where his team helps others scale and exit. He talks openly about the highs and lows of his journey and shares his wisdom on how you can find the ‘Rembrandt in the attic’ of your business.

(Some of) The main points for listeners:

• There’s value in having the whole team go through the learning of Scaling Up

• Why starting from scratch is so much harder than acquiring a good business

• How buying as business with debt helps entrepreneurs really scale

• As a teenager John always knew he’d be an entrepreneur – do you know if you are one?

• When your company is big enough that you don’t know everyone’s name you need a senior team

• How a person responsible for ‘employee happiness’ really drives engagement

• How to drive employee turnover DOWN through full focus

• John’s ‘Dream On’ process drove employee turnover from 110% down to 18%

• Recognise that you’re never going to get 100% buy in… so build your process for the majority!

• Build your employee handbook that treats employees like adults!

• What can I do today to make the employee experience better than yesterday?

• How creating rituals around simple things really drives satisfaction

• How great office space and design really supports your frontline employees

• Purpose – it’s more an issue of authenticity… otherwise people will see through your actions.

• If you don’t truly believe in the actions you are taking don’t do them!

• As an entrepreneur if you don’t wake up everyday unbelievably grateful that people show up in your business to bring YOUR dreams to life you’re in the wrong business

• Remember people have a choice about where they work!

• What can you tell about the general manager at a hotel just by looking at the way the team work together!

• Spend your money on the employee experience to enable your people to drive your customer experience through creating your brand promise

• Nothing good comes from mediocre experience

• Build a business on a foundation of culture, skills and talent with purpose at the core

• The link between purpose, values, culture and systems and the value of your business

• How John saw the Aeron chair as the canary in the coal mine

• John’s advice to his 22 year old self…

• How it’s the highs and the lows that really do make our succesS

Learn More: visit the Ignium https://www.igniumconsult.com

Subscribe for more exclusive content in the Ignium Spark Tank https://www.igniumconsult.com/the-spark-tank

Listen to the show: https://sparksbyignium.transistor.fm/episodes

Connect with John at Align 5 https://align5.com

Learn more about Scaling Up: https://scalingup.com/

Books Referenced in this episode:

Mastering the Rockefeller Habits: What You Must Do to Increase the Value of Your Growing Firm https://amzn.eu/d/3gSfz0O

Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't (Rockefeller Habits 2.0) https://amzn.eu/d/a6bMZP2

The Heart of Business: Leadership Principles for the Next Era of Capitalism https://amzn.eu/d/6U9Qzek

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Keywords in this episode:

Purpose, scaling Up, Scale, Entrepreneur, Success, Purpose Driven, John Ratliff, Secret Sauce, coaching, 10X thinking, Entrepreneurs Organisation, BHAG

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