What You Learn After 40 years of Leading Through Change with T.J. Coombs - EP.274

Think Like an Owner

In this episode of Think Like an Owner, Alex Bridgeman sits down with T.J. Coombs, an experienced operator and turnaround expert with decades of leadership across industries including building products, manufacturing, and distribution. T.J. shares lessons from his 40-year career helping companies navigate transitions, execute turnarounds, and build strong leadership teams. He discusses his philosophy of defining success by when you leave, the importance of disciplined assessments, and the hands-on approach required to truly understand and improve a business.

They discuss: • How defining success as "when you leave" creates accountability in leadership transitions • Why the best business insights often come from the shop floor, not the boardroom • The mindset and structure required to execute successful turnarounds • How effective CEOs balance strategic vision with time spent in the field • The future of the building products industry and the growing importance of service and technology

Links:

T.J. on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjcoombs/

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:01:48) - The drive to lead

(00:05:12) - When you know you're work is done

(00:07:04) - Evaluating WHO you want to work with

(00:12:17) - "Staple yourself to an order"

(00:15:46) - Favorite questions to ask in order to better understand a business

(00:18:08) - How long do you typically spend as an interim CEO?

(00:20:06) - Involvement in hiring the permanent CEO

(00:23:13) - Leading a turnaround business

(00:31:00) - The key jobs of a CEO

(00:42:56) - The state of the Distribution and Install industries

(00:54:41) - Advice to building supply leaders