29 - The Secret Sauce to Accountability and Collaboration in Problem-Solving
Lucky 13 - All Things People AND Profit
Release Date: 04/01/2025
58 - From Origin Story to Core Focus: Crafting Your Business Identity
Lucky 13 - All Things People AND Profit
In this Lucky 13 Podcast episode, Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser discuss the importance of “core focus” in business and personal development. They explore how a company’s origin story shapes its purpose, passion, and niche, emphasizing the need to revisit and clarify these elements regularly. Through personal anecdotes and practical examples, they highlight how a clear core focus guides decision-making, prevents distractions, and energizes teams. The conversation also touches on the value of discipline in saying no to misaligned opportunities and the role of both founders and employees in...
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57 - Are You Expanding Your Business or Just Filling Space?
Lucky 13 - All Things People AND Profit
In this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, hosts Josh Hauser and Mike Lantz share personal holiday traditions before diving into business insights. They discuss Parkinson’s Law, emphasizing how work expands to fill available time, and warn against unnecessary hiring and bureaucratic growth. The conversation highlights the pitfalls of focusing on trivial issues, accumulating organizational “junk,” and prioritizing appearances over substance. The hosts encourage leaders to set tighter deadlines, regularly eliminate inefficiencies, and foster honest self-reflection to build resilient,...
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56 - Mastering the Art of Employee Evaluation: Balancing Will Sets and Skill Sets for Team Success
Lucky 13 - All Things People AND Profit
In this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser dive into people management, work-life alignment, and employee evaluation, using the holiday season as a backdrop. They discuss how aligning personal and professional lives brings clarity, then explore evaluating employees through “will sets” (motivation) and “skill sets” (ability). The conversation covers managing low performers, re-engaging disengaged experts, developing high potentials, and coaching top talent. Sports analogies and real-life examples illustrate strategies for feedback, ownership, and recognition....
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55 - The Challenge of Balancing Leadership and Friendship in Business
Lucky 13 - All Things People AND Profit
In this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser reconnect, sharing lighthearted banter about local food favorites before diving into a reflective business discussion. They emphasize the importance of honest year-end reviews, hiring the right people, and upholding core company values. The conversation explores balancing accountability and friendship, demanding excellence with compassion, and avoiding fear-based retention. Using personal stories and practical tools, Mike and Josh encourage leaders to foster team alignment, address issues early, and make data-driven...
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54 - Practical Best Strategies for Rapid Organizational Culture Transformation
Lucky 13 - All Things People AND Profit
In this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, hosts Josh Hauser and Mike Lantz explore the foundations of effective business leadership, using sports analogies from Indiana University athletics. They discuss building success through consistent effort, the importance of decisive commitment, and rapidly transforming organizational culture. The conversation highlights the need for clear vision, aligning the right people in the right roles, and mastering both leadership and management. Practical strategies like measurable KPIs and 90-day priorities are shared, emphasizing intentional teamwork and...
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53 - Unlocking AI: Practical Steps for Small and Mid-Sized Businesses to Embrace Technology and Thrive
Lucky 13 - All Things People AND Profit
In this Lucky 13 Podcast episode, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser interview Jason Beutler, CEO of Robosource. Jason shares his journey from studying computer science and AI to founding Robosource, which helps small and mid-sized businesses integrate AI into daily operations. They discuss Robosource’s Process Coach, a virtual AI assistant that streamlines tasks like sales proposals and sourcing, and emphasize AI as a supportive tool, not a job replacer. The conversation also covers challenges businesses face in adopting AI, the importance of business-driven strategies, and Robosource's...
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52 - What Can Math Teach Us About Leadership and Organizational Clarity?
Lucky 13 - All Things People AND Profit
In this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser explore how leadership and organizational clarity can be improved using the math concept of order of operations (PEMDAS). Through relatable analogies and real-world examples, they discuss the importance of clear rules, tools, and disciplines in business, effective communication, and hiring practices. The hosts share personal stories and practical frameworks, emphasizing that consistent standards and cultural fit are key to building strong, aligned teams and achieving business success. Podcast Introduction...
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51 - The Greatest Leadership Principles for Inspiring Success and Growth
Lucky 13 - All Things People AND Profit
In this episode, Mike and Josh discuss Indiana University football’s strong season and the excitement around the return of the bison mascot. The conversation then shifts to leadership, drawing on John Maxwell’s “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.” They explore principles like servant leadership, the importance of connection, and the Law of Buy-In, sharing personal stories and practical advice. The episode emphasizes that effective leadership is built on daily growth, genuine relationships, and helping others achieve their dreams, offering actionable insights for both sports fans...
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50 - Why "But" is the Enemy of Effective Communication in Leadership
Lucky 13 - All Things People AND Profit
In this episode, recorded on September 11th, Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser (“Chef Hauser”) engage in an unscripted conversation about business leadership, personal growth, and mindset. Josh shares memorable analogies—like “left cheek, right cheek” and “what wood won’t light”—to illustrate the importance of referrals, clarity, and focusing on high performers. The hosts discuss raising organizational standards, the value of self-awareness, and fostering team alignment. Blending humor and practical advice, they encourage leaders to obsess over excellence, nurture talent, and...
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49 - Building a Resilient Workforce: Strategies for Managing Employee Turnover Effectively
Lucky 13 - All Things People AND Profit
In this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser dive into the challenges of employee turnover in today’s tight job market. They distinguish between natural and preventable turnover, discuss the impact of hiring practices and leadership, and offer practical strategies for reducing regrettable attrition. The conversation also highlights the value of peer coaching “trios” for business owners. With candid anecdotes and actionable advice, Mike and Josh emphasize the importance of aligning the right people with the right roles to drive business success and employee...
info_outlineIn this episode of the "Lucky 13 Podcast," hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser delve into problem-solving within organizations using the IDS (Identify, Discuss, Solve) methodology. They emphasize the need to address recurring issues, foster accountability, and ensure effective communication among team members. Key takeaways include the importance of taking immediate action, defining clear outcomes, managing short-term and long-term issues, and the critical role of leadership in guiding discussions. The hosts provide practical advice on identifying and prioritizing issues that impact people, processes, and profits, encouraging a culture of open dialogue and collaboration for sustainable solutions.
Introduction and Hosts (00:00:08)
Mike Lance introduces the podcast and his co-host, Josh Hauser.
Business Owners Roundtable Anecdote (00:00:32)
Mike shares an anecdote about a recurring issue faced by a business owner.
Recurring Issues in Business (00:01:13)
Discussion on the persistence of unresolved issues in businesses and the importance of accountability.
Introduction to IDS Methodology (00:02:07)
Josh explains the IDS (Identify, Discuss, Solve) methodology for addressing business problems.
Importance of L10 Meetings (00:02:34)
Mike emphasizes the structure of L10 meetings and their focus on solving important issues.
Defining Issues (00:02:53)
Josh discusses how to identify and define issues within a team or organization.
The Three P's (00:03:26)
Josh introduces the concept of focusing on People, Process, and Profit when identifying issues.
Accountability in Problem Solving (00:05:10)
Discussion on determining accountability for issues raised in meetings.
Types of Issues (00:06:30)
Josh outlines three types of issues: feedback, information, and problems to solve.
Pain Points in Problem Solving (00:08:35)
Josh stresses the importance of identifying pain points when discussing issues.
Avoidance of Issues (00:11:33)
Josh highlights avoidance as a common issue in leadership teams and its impact on problem-solving.
Collaboration for Solutions (00:12:21)
Discussion on the need for collaboration between departments to resolve issues effectively.
Curiosity in Discussions (00:14:36)
Josh explains the importance of curiosity and focused discussions in the IDS process.
Effective Solving (00:14:48)
Josh concludes with how a good solve should result in actionable to-dos within a specified timeframe.
First Domino in Action (00:14:59)
Discusses the importance of identifying the first step in solving a business issue.
Understanding "I Got It" (00:15:24)
Highlights the need for clarity on what "done" means when assigning tasks.
Quarterly Rocks and Issue Management (00:16:00)
Explores how unresolved issues can accumulate over time, complicating goal achievement.
Compartmentalizing Conversations (00:17:10)
Emphasizes the importance of separating long-term and short-term issues for effective problem-solving.
Maturity in Problem-Solving (00:17:50)
Discusses the necessity of having the right mindset for addressing immediate versus future issues.
Resources for Integrators (00:18:39)
Provides suggestions for resources and individuals to follow for better problem-solving skills.
Skill Set vs. Will Set (00:19:39)
Contrasts the need for the will to identify issues with the skill to resolve them effectively.
Challenge for Leaders (00:20:16)
Encourages listeners to identify their biggest issues to facilitate strategic planning and solutions.