Don't Make Your People Do Jobs for Robots — Mike Doughty

Mike Doughty, owner of Home Care Agency Zeabe, and former sales and marketing automation expert, shares his journey from New Zealand to the U.S. and how he transitioned into the home care industry.

He discusses the importance of automating 90% of tasks to humanize the remaining 10%, building a remote team in the Philippines, and the value of psychometric tests in understanding team dynamics.

Mike also reflects on the lessons he's learned from his mistakes and how he applies them to his business today.

Lesson Takeaways:

1. Automation should handle repetitive tasks, but meaningful human interactions remain the foundation of a successful home care business. Knowing what to automate and what to personalize makes all the difference.
2. Building a remote team, especially across different time zones, requires well-defined roles and expectations. Mike Doughty’s success with a team in the Philippines proves that clarity and structure are key to remote work effectiveness.
3. Seeking guidance is valuable, but blindly following advice can lead to costly mistakes. Mike learned that trusting his own judgment—while considering expert input—is the key to making sound business decisions.
4. Tools like the Predictive Index and Wealth Dynamics help identify individual strengths, ensuring that team members are placed in roles where they naturally excel. Investing in the right fit leads to higher performance and job satisfaction.
5. Instead of only measuring end results, focusing on leading indicators (daily activities that drive outcomes) keeps the team engaged, motivated, and continuously improving.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Intro
• 01:30 - Mike introduces himself and his journey from New Zealand to the U.S.
• 03:00 - How Mike got into the home care business through his father.
• 06:15 - Mike’s approach to learning and personal growth.
• 09:00 - Mike shares his biggest mistake and the lesson of taking advice but making your own decisions.
• 12:45 - The importance of trusting your gut in a regulated industry like home care.
• 18:45 - Mike’s philosophy on automating 90% of tasks to humanize the 10%.
• 22:05 - Using technology to recognize and appreciate caregivers.
• 32:50 - Mike’s proudest achievement: building a successful remote team in the Philippines.
• 34:55 - Mike’s vision for the future of his business in 2026.

Quotes

1. Mike Doughty: "Let’s automate the 90%, humanize the 10%. That 10 percent is really the most important. That’s when you’re able to have people face to face with other people and be developing that relationship."
2. Mike Doughty: "I’ve learned over the years that I have the learning gene, and I’m lucky I can learn without there needing to be an outcome."
3. Mike Doughty: "Take lots of advice, but ignore it all. At the end of the day, you want to make sure that you make the decision from your perspective."

Resources:

1. Twitter/X: @MikeDoughty https://twitter.com/MikeDoughty
2. LinkedIn: Mike Doughty https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedoughty/
3. Website: The Knowledge Gym https://theknowledgegym.com/
4. The Power of Regret by Dan Pink: https://www.danpink.com/the-power-of-regret/
5. Predictive Index: https://www.predictiveindex.com/
6. Wealth Dynamics: https://www.wealthdynamics.com/
7. Connect with David Knack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-knack/
8. Connect with Zingage on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zingage/
9. Powered by Zingage: https://zingage.com/
10. Subscribe on Zingage’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zingage