39 - Profit First: How Data Can Drive Accountability and Financial Success
Lucky 13 - All Things People AND Profit
Release Date: 06/30/2025
42 - From Expenses to Assets: Rethinking Your Approach to Workforce Investment
Lucky 13 - All Things People AND Profit
In this episode, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser broadcast from their new studio at Launch Fishers, sharing personal stories before diving into the importance of leadership teams in business. They explain how a strong leadership team can significantly boost a company’s valuation, especially when preparing for sale. The hosts introduce the first steps of a seven-step talent planning process: aligning future organizational charts with company vision and identifying pivotal roles. Emphasizing people as strategic investments, they encourage business owners to proactively develop talent and...
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41 - From Football Fields to Business Deals: The Power of Mental Resilience
Lucky 13 - All Things People AND Profit
In this episode of the Lucky 13 podcast, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser discuss IU football before welcoming guest Ben Carnes, a former football coach, mental trainer, and entrepreneur. Ben shares practical mental training techniques, such as the "focus cycle" and "four boxes" framework, to help entrepreneurs manage overwhelm, build confidence, and confront challenges. The conversation highlights the importance of honest self-assessment, combating negative self-talk, and celebrating progress. Listeners are encouraged to apply these mental strategies in both sports and business to...
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40 - Elevate Your Game: The Power of Mental Training for Athletes and Business Leaders
Lucky 13 - All Things People AND Profit
In this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser talk with guest Ben Carnes about the vital role of mental training in sports and business. Ben shares his journey from coaching football players to helping entrepreneurs, introducing practical tools like the "focus cycle" for managing stress and improving performance. The discussion covers breathing techniques, positive affirmations, and focus management, emphasizing resilience and the universal value of mental skills. Listeners are encouraged to apply these strategies to overcome setbacks and achieve success in any...
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39 - Profit First: How Data Can Drive Accountability and Financial Success
Lucky 13 - All Things People AND Profit
In this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser discuss the vital role of data in business success. They share personal stories, including family updates and an upcoming wedding, to highlight the importance of relationships. The conversation centers on how accurate data enables better control, profit management, and employee accountability. They emphasize adopting a “profit first” mindset and using key metrics to drive decisions. The episode concludes by stressing that while profit is essential, balancing it with care for people is crucial for sustainable growth....
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38 - Are You Struggling to Balance Work, Sleep, and Personal Life?
Lucky 13 - All Things People AND Profit
In this episode of the Lucky 13 podcast, Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser discuss the importance of intentional time management and work-life balance. They reflect on a recent Pacers vs. Knicks game before introducing the "eight by eight by eight" framework for dividing time between work, sleep, and personal life. Sharing personal stories and practical tips, they encourage listeners to audit their schedules, prioritize commitments, and use tools to track time. Emphasizing flexibility and purpose, they inspire the audience to make conscious choices that align with their values and lead to a more...
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37 - The Best Strategies for Achieving Work-Life Harmony This Summer
Lucky 13 - All Things People AND Profit
In this episode of the Lucky 13 podcast, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser share personal stories about family milestones, summer travel, and the challenges entrepreneurs face during seasonal transitions. They discuss the importance of intentional planning, maintaining discipline, and achieving balance through the "eight by eight by eight" rule—dedicating equal time to work, sleep, and personal well-being. Emphasizing relationships, self-care, and purposeful living, Mike and Josh offer practical advice for navigating busy summer months while staying focused on both business and personal...
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36 - The Hidden Costs of Disengagement: Why Your Workforce is Leaving
Lucky 13 - All Things People AND Profit
In this episode of the Lucky 13 podcast, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser explore the latest trends in employee engagement, referencing Gallup’s Q12 survey and recent research on workplace culture. They discuss the decline in engagement, the impact of mid-level management, and why employees leave—highlighting issues like poor leadership, lack of meaningful work, and toxic culture. The hosts emphasize the importance of trust, recognition, flexibility, and value alignment, offering practical insights for leaders seeking to improve retention and create a more positive, engaged workplace....
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35 - The Hidden Costs of Disengagement: Why Your Bottom Line Depends on Employee Engagement
Lucky 13 - All Things People AND Profit
In this episode of the "Lucky 13" podcast, Josh Hauser and Mike Lantz discuss the critical issue of declining employee engagement in the U.S., referencing a recent Gallup report. They explore the Gallup Q12 survey, which measures engagement through 12 questions, and emphasize the pivotal role of middle management in fostering a positive work environment. Key strategies for enhancing engagement include empowering managers, integrating engagement into daily operations, aligning efforts with organizational goals, providing development opportunities, and fostering a culture of recognition....
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34 - The Cost of Disengagement: How It's Draining Your Business Resources
Lucky 13 - All Things People AND Profit
In this episode of the Lucky 13 podcast, co-hosts Josh Hauser and Mike Lantz discuss the critical topic of employee engagement, drawing insights from Gallup's 2024 engagement report. They highlight the alarming decline in global and U.S. engagement scores and the significant financial impact of disengagement on productivity and turnover costs. The conversation emphasizes the importance of a robust company culture and effective management practices in retaining engaged employees. They also introduce Gallup's Q12 questions, designed to measure employee engagement, and stress the need for...
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33 - Saying "No" is Not a Four-Letter Word!
Lucky 13 - All Things People AND Profit
In this episode of the Lucky 13 podcast, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser discuss the importance of setting boundaries and the power of saying "no" in both personal and professional contexts. They explore how societal pressures often lead to overcommitment and burnout. The hosts share practical strategies for effectively communicating "no," such as using "I" statements and practicing empathy. They emphasize the significance of knowing one's priorities and practicing self-care to avoid capacity issues. Through personal anecdotes, they highlight the benefits of prioritizing one's well-being and...
info_outlineIn this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser discuss the vital role of data in business success. They share personal stories, including family updates and an upcoming wedding, to highlight the importance of relationships. The conversation centers on how accurate data enables better control, profit management, and employee accountability. They emphasize adopting a “profit first” mindset and using key metrics to drive decisions. The episode concludes by stressing that while profit is essential, balancing it with care for people is crucial for sustainable growth.
Podcast Introduction (00:00:08) Hosts introduce the Lucky 13 Podcast and themselves, setting the tone for the episode.
Personal Updates & Family Stories (00:00:26) Josh discusses his daughter's wedding, family anecdotes, and Mike shares updates about his children.
The Importance of Personal Connections at Work (00:02:47) Emphasizes checking in with employees about personal and professional highlights to build culture.
Lou Gehrig Shoutout & Baseball Anecdotes (00:03:15) Shoutout to Lou Gehrig (the local business owner), discussion about the origin of "Wally Pipp" in baseball.
Transition to Data in Business (00:05:31) Shifts focus to the main topic: the role of data in solving business frustrations.
Frustration 1: Control & Predictability (00:05:53) How data provides control, focus, and predictability in business operations.
Data Accuracy & Leading Indicators (00:07:51) Importance of accurate data and using leading indicators for proactive decision-making.
Frustration 2: Profit Management (00:09:00) Using data to manage profit, including a discussion of the "Profit First" book and methodology.
Profit First Method Explained (00:09:55) Details on implementing the profit first approach and its impact on business spending.
Frustration 3: People & Accountability (00:12:36) How data helps create accountability and clarity in employee roles and performance.
Measuring Performance with Data (00:12:55) Assigning numbers to roles, regular check-ins, and the importance of clear expectations.
Data for Hiring and Avoiding Bloat (00:14:32) Using data to determine when to hire and prevent organizational bloat.
Clarifying Profit vs. People (00:15:16) Discussion on balancing profit and people, and the responsibility of business owners.
Accountability Runs Both Ways (00:16:18) Employees can use data to demonstrate performance and negotiate expectations.
Frustration 4: Hitting the Ceiling/Plateau (00:17:00) Recognizing and addressing business plateaus using data to identify bottlenecks.
Signs of Plateau & Talent Standards (00:18:02) Indicators of plateau, importance of maintaining talent standards, and using data for growth.
Building a Sustainable Organization (00:19:58) Comparisons to sports and music; using data to build lasting success, not just one-hit wonders.
Change is Inevitable—Plan with Data (00:20:49) Emphasizes planning for change and using data to anticipate shifts in business.
Frustration 5: When Nothing is Working (00:21:28) How to use data to diagnose and address business crises or stagnation.
Inspecting the Business Model (00:22:18) Evaluating if the business model is outdated or needs change, with examples from Kodak and Blockbuster.
Importance of Historical Data (00:23:27) Need for consistent, long-term data tracking to identify trends and avoid guesswork.
Identifying Key Data Points (00:24:46) Focus on collecting the most impactful data for business decision-making.
Behavioral Reactions to Data (00:25:50) Using data to drive behavioral changes and address business frustrations.
Podcast Wrap-Up (00:26:24) Final thoughts on the importance of data and closing remarks.