Out of the Hourglass: Recent Episodes

Nolan Consulting Group

Out of the Hourglass, presented by Nolan Consulting Group, is here to help Small Business Owners and Contractors alike visualize their goals, develop their team & build sustainable growth. You'll hear from our panel of NCG Coaches on a variety of topics, guest speakers from top industry resources, Business Owners sharing best practices and a focus on strategies across sales, marketing, business planning, human resources and more. We're here to take you "out of the hourglass" and reach YOUR Summit.

At NCG, we are intentional about the planning process. We believe it is essential to devote time to strategically think about the year ahead, align with your vision, define the Big Rocks, and focus on goals.

THIS is the time to think about getting started - to get the meetings scheduled, the communication plan for the plan in place.

No matter your company size - big or small, there are ways to approach this season with newfound energy, team participation, and excitement for the year ahead. Brian highlights where to start, different frameworks to work through and recommendations for getting the process started on the right foot.

Today’s episode features Sydney Bates, a Project Manager here at NCG for an introduction to a NEW Tool that has captured our attention and is applicable to the perspective and framework work we do everyday - Working Genius!

Working Genius, a model developed by Patrick Lencioni of the Table Group, is a tool used to help individuals and teams identify in what aspects of the work lifecycle they find joy and fulfillment, and in what others they find frustration.

There are 6 Types of Genius -

Wonder - Invention - Discernment - Galvanizing - Enablement - Tenacity

Our conversation gives us an introductory look at the model, reviewing what each of these geniuses mean, and how they fit into categories of working geniuses, working competences and working frustrations. By empowering individuals to recognize their personal genius characteristics, the positive impact of awareness on the greater team falls right in line.

To learn more about Working Genius and Assessment Opportunities, click here.

This week, we are joined by Meg Cook, Chairman of the Board & President of Painters USA

for an important and eye opening conversation on the topic of mental health and well-being awareness in the workplace, specifically across the construction and trades industry.

At the start of our conversation, Meg shared a shocking statistic: “1 in 5 Americans suffer from some sort of mental health condition at any given time, but more than half do not receive treatment or know how to access help.” When you break down these statistics by industry type, the outcome among the construction industry is staggering.

Meg is looking to break this pattern and help end the stigma around mental health by putting energy towards education and connection of resources, incorporating them into the Painters USA Safety program and sharing this topic with third party organizations that are in need of this guidance.

For Meg, this is about normalizing the mental health conversation, providing access and direction to resources and recognizing it’s essential to create a culture of caring across your organization. Fortunately, she is not alone in this fight… and you can join her in this mission.

Every year, during September — National Suicide Prevention Month — the construction industry will dedicate a week to raising awareness about the unique challenges workers face in construction that lead to suicide and what we can do to prevent it. This year, Construction Suicide Prevention Week will take place September 4-8, 2023.

To learn more, access resources and “tool box talks”, and register your company for participation in this awareness week, visit https://constructionsuicideprevention.com/

It’s time to STAND UP and Make a Difference.

This week on the podcast, we are back in the studio with Colin Nolan, a Senior Business Coach at NCG to discuss Prospecting and Business Development. In this ever-changing landscape, the journey is both challenging and rewarding, requiring adaptability, creativity, and unwavering determination.

Prospecting and Business Development involve a dynamic blend of strategic planning, effective communication, and a keen understanding of market trends. Whether it's cultivating new leads through digital outreach or networking face-to-face, mastering the art of prospecting empowers businesses to establish a strong and reputable presence in their industries.

So where to begin? Colin breaks down the behavioral needs, makes recommendations on getting a plan in place and reminds us that we need to reframe what success looks like. It’s time to incentive behaviors and make these conversations routine part of your weekly sales meetings.

We are returning with another chapter sneak peek of Kevin Nolan’s soon to be released book, Organizational Muscle, a personal account of the business he has built since 1979, detailing the lessons learned, strategies made and insights for building and growing a strong business that endures.

Kevin’s been joining us on the podcast sharing sneak peeks of some of those chapters within the book, and today, we are talking Compensation. We cover the gamut on this topic, from his approach to the Compensation Model and how it’s evolved over the years, Nolan Painting’s take on Overtime, Pay for Performance,Top performers, and deferred compensation, as well as the impact and power of transparency across the payroll ladder.

Kevin’s Book, Organizational muscle will be released early Fall of 2023, check out his website https://organizationalmuscle.com/ and following Org Muscle on Instagram and Facebook for updates, book content and tips!

If you’ve had the opportunity to listen to our prior two episodes on the Succession Planning Process, which we highly encourage you, we would argue it’s safe to assume that we are all on the same page - putting thoughtful time and planning into an organization’s succession plan is essential.

Our Succession Process is a 3 Stage, 9 Step Program that was intentionally designed to help create a methodical plan for business owners who might be looking to transition their role in the business over the next 5-7 years. In the prior episodes, we gave a process overview and focus on Stage 1: Exploration and Foundation and Stage 2: The Next Chapter and Transition.

Today we wrap with a framework overview of Stage 3: The Development and Communication leg of the process. This is facilitating the transfer of skills, best practices and as well as governance planning and communication timelines. We are aiming for an effective flow of information at targeted times to keep the organization, and its stakeholders, aligned with the progressive steps of the SPP.

As always, If you would like to learn more about our Succession Planning Process and the program specifics, you can visit our website or contact me directly via email, Molly@nolancg.com

Most people would agree that the process of becoming a fantastic salesperson is a journey. There are the fundamentals of learning the sales process, one that guides how you take a customer through the buyer’s journey, and then there is the understanding of the instincts, behaviors, and attitudes, and the methodology that draws the line to execute the process with mastery.

An understanding of the process Process – without Methodology = Inferior results

An awareness of Methodology – without Process = Inconsistent results

When you are able to combine a full understanding of process with the excellence of the methodology, that defines success. But how can you teach this methodology, or mindset?

Today, Andrew Amrhein and Mike Shannon join us to tell us that yes, while it can be taught, it does require an intricate understanding of one’s own weaknesses and strengths and finding the correct training to conquer the head trash, Developing "Closer Instincts", and practicing the true the Behaviors that lead to Mastery of the mindset is critical.

“Preventable injuries, commonly known as “accidents,” are the fourth leading cause of U.S. deaths. The cost of unintentional injuries to Americans and their employers exceeds $730 billion nationally, or $6,200 per household, and causes great suffering for individuals and their families”

Safety matters every day of the year, but during June it gets the extra attention it deserves, June is National Safety Month and we are here to support!

At Nolan Consulting Group, we believe Safety needs continual attention in your organization, throughout all departments and have continued to focus and build upon a certification program to ensure the organizations we work with hold safety practices with high regard. A few weeks ago, Kahtyn and two of our team mates joined some folks from the team at nolan painting at their 2023 Safteve captive event to learn and network with industry leaders.

On today.s episode, Kathryns shares her core takeaways from that event , from compliance and After Action Reviews, with a wrap up on the status and strategic planning for NCG's safety focus.

Think about this -

Wouldn’t it be nice to know specifically where a Rep needs help?
Or specifically why they are not a fit for your organization?
Or that what you’re assessing your team against fits the same process you are trying to coach?

We are excited to share that NCG is now certified to offer Sales Insights Assessments and Evaluations through the company Objective Management Group, a pioneer and industry leader in sales team evaluations and sales candidate screening. This tool focuses on providing insights and maximizing sales performance in companies of all sizes and from all industries.

On today’s episode, Andrew walks us through the impact this tool can have on your hiring and team development process, how it’s helped our team to teach better, more focused sales content, and the opportunity to really peel back the unique attributes that make a sales person from good to exceptional.

Interested in learning more? Take a listen to the podcast and talk to your coach for next steps!

The Succession Planning Process a topic that our team has become quite passionate about over the last couple years through the recognition that your organization deserves a thoughtfully curated and carefully executed exit plan, when that time is to come.

Our Succession Process is a 3 Stage, 9 Step Program that was intentionally designed to help create a methodical plan for business owners who might be looking to transition their role in the business over the next 5-7 years. In our first episode, we gave a process overview and focus on Stage 1: Exploration and Foundations - a time of discovery and getting out og the hallways.

Today, Managing partner brian Nolan and NCG Business Coach, Jim Bradly, join me to focus on the framework of Stage 2: The Next Chapter and Transition - what some may call the heart of the process and the roadmap to the future.

As always, If you would like to learn more about our Succession Planning Process and the program specifics, you can visit our website or contact me directly via email, Molly@nolancg.com

On this week's episode of Out of the Hourglass, Kathryn Freeman, NCG Sr. Business Coach and Director of Operations welcomes a new guest: Nicole Hanik, Chief Integration Officer at Painters USA. In this compelling conversation, Kathryn and Nicole tackle the topic of Continuous Process Improvement and the need to incorporate technology.

As the CIO of a 40 Million + Organization with 3 locations, Nicole thrives on the challenge to find efficiency opportunities. From technology analysis at different revenue sizes to implementation of new processes throughout the organization, Nicole is orchestrating all the required components of the strategy to achieve the short- and long-term business goals of the company.

We're back with another highly requested Business is Messy Podcast Episode featuring NCG Partners and brothers Brian Nolan and Kevin Nolan.

When we last heard from these two, it was mid-July, and there was growing uncertainty about the economy and potentially turbulent times ahead. Here we are 4 months later, and while uncertainty remains, there is clarity in having a plan A...and a plan B.

Riding the rapids requires a heightened sense of alertness and excitement. Awareness, communication, and an action plan are essential for survival. Gather your team, stay alert and win the game!

NCG's Managing Partner Brian Nolan, takes over the mic to host a critical conversation on Labor Laws and Employer Protection with David Walton, an experienced Labor and Employment attorney at Fisher Phillips in Philadelphia. The conversation dives into the complicated world of employer/employee relations and covers a variety of tips for dealing with employee challenges. Documentation, setting expectations, separation agreements and objective facts are just some of the tools discussed to help you stay informed and equip you to mitigate risk

On today's podcast, Molly sits down with the team at Boxed Sourcing & Production - a women-owned and operated company specializing in branded and promotional goods. Through this conversation, Co-Founders Brigette Fuscia, Meghann Bezdikain, and Director of New Business Development, Joanna Kummer, discuss the impact that company swag and branding can have on a business.

From totes and t-shirts to socks and pickleball paddles, these entrepreneurs are creating and designing intentional company gear - high-quality items your clients will use that become walking billboards for your brand. The women at Boxed Sourcing do it differently - they build client relationships, trust one another, and share the hustle and fun of a successful small business.

Want to get in touch with the team at Boxed? Reach out to INFO@BOXEDSOURCING.COM

The NCG Book Club has been busy! We've read a lot of great books in the last several months and we have a new one to add to that list - "Who Not How" by Dan Sullivan.

Imagine a life where everything you do is YOUR choice...from how you spend your time, to how much money you make, to the quality of your relationships, to the amount of joy you experience. Sounds amazing, right? Dan Sullivan's book aims to shift your thinking so you can make this happen - through your connections with other people.

Listen in as the NCG team shares key points and insights on finding the "Whos" to do our "Hows".

On today's podcast, Molly welcomes NCG Business Coach Jim Bradley, for an introduction to the concept of Lean Thinking and its application to operational strategy and workflow in the trades and services industries, With an extensive background in operational management, Jim’s expertise and passion for this topic are evident. He shares how to think through a Lean lens, and how to extend this perspective to teams for greater impact.

Today's introduction to the Lean concept is an overview with great insight into the correlation of this manufacturing philosophy to the trades. The Lean toolbox has numerous tools - many of which we’ll explore in future episodes. Listen in to begin seeing your operations through a Lean lens ...and boost flow in your value stream!

Are you a member of, or a leader of...a team? Yes - of course, and today's podcast is all about teams! Three members of the NCG Book Club join Molly for a discussion about Patrick Lencioni’s “The Ideal Team Player” ~ How to Recognize and Cultivate the Three Essential Virtues. NCG's Book Club is a commitment to continuous learning, and to the application and connection of the work we do with our clients, and our own organization. We've delved into titles such as Love + Work, Coaching through Breakthrough Success, Think Again, Winning on Purpose, Radical Candor, and more. NCG Book Club members engage in lively discussions and share solid takeaways and new perspectives on our roles and responsibilities. This week's discussion is no different and lends insight into what makes The Ideal Team Player.

Welcome to Q4! Ready or not, it's fall ...and Annual Planning Season! On today's podcast, Molly welcomes Brian Nolan, Managing Partner here at Nolan Consulting Group for a conversation that will recharge your planning mindset!

At NCG, we are intentional about the planning process. We believe it is essential to devote time to strategically think about the year ahead, align with your vision, define PDIs, and focus on goals.

No matter your company size - big or small, there are ways to approach this season with newfound energy, team participation, and excitement for the year ahead. Brian highlights where to start, different frameworks to work through and recommendations for getting the process started on the right foot.

In this week's episode, two of Nolan Consulting Groups' finest take the mic for a conversation about two tools used frequently at NCG: the DISC Profile Assessment and the Position Vision.

Kathryn Freeman, Director of Operations and Sr. Business Coach, and Sydney Bates, Business Support Specialist highlight how we can use these two resources in tandem to provide insight on the core responsibilities and behaviors best suited for the different roles within your organization. Position visions and DISC Assessments can be woven together to provide insight...what type of DISC profile is best suited for a role? ...is a current employee a good fit to promote from within? ...are there characteristics that are required for success in a role, and others that are nice to have?

We are all about filling the seats on the bus with the right people for your journey. Listen in on this episode and learn how to use these tools to find the best fit!

This week we bring back NCG Sr. Business Coach Andrew Amrhein for a conversation on Diagnosing Problems. How do we fully understand an issue to address the specific problem? Andrew discusses his strategy of categorizing issues into three types - human problems, process problems, and systems problems.

Listen in as Molly and Andrew work through getting to the root of the issue and the importance of valuing judgment. Surely this episode will leave you with insight on the challenges you are facing in your own workplace.

Today's podcast detours from our usual business topics and takes us on a kayaking, hiking, and camping adventure off the coast of Washington state among the beautiful San Juan Islands! This journey intertwines business and life ...how and where are they connected? ...what do you want your life to look like? ...how can you make that vision real?

NCG's Managing Partner, Brian Nolan facilitated the San Juan trip and joins the podcast today along with three fellow sojourners: Summit Members Luis Rodriguez (LC) from Lifetime Custom Painting in San Diego, CA, and Stephen Edwards & Shawn Bellenbaum of Grants Pass Painting based in Grants Pass, OR.

Join us as we step out of the conference room and circle 'round the campfire to focus on the future. The impact of this first Summit Member Adventure was more than just fun...it was a leap into the future supported by new peer relationships - getting dirty, wet and vulnerable were all part of the challenge!

This week we welcome back a famous duo, comedians at heart... The Sales Guys! NCG's Andrew Amrhein and Jim Falk take the mic to share some observations of the current selling environment including trends they are noticing and areas of the sales process that need to be tightened up - like when do you send that estimate? Spoiler alert...you might be sending them too fast, too soon! The Sales Guys are here to help Sales Professionals stay focused on improving their skills and mastering the process, especially now while the fishing is still good!

Our host, Molly Nolan, is joined today by NCG's Director of Operations and Sr. Business Coach Kathryn Freeman for an intriguing discussion on the impact of a Team DISC.

The DISC concept should be familiar to you if you're a regular podcast listener or if you work with any of our NCG team members. The DISC Assessment gives a complete picture of an individual's behavior, but it can also reveal gaps and strengths of an entire group when it is used in a Team DISC. Kathryn shares how a Team DISC can be used to reveal communication patterns and balance on the teams within your organization, and how it can be used when adding employees to your organization. The Power a Team DISC is tangible - it's a great way to get your team together, provide insight and knowledge, and have some fun!

Scalability and growth are top priorities for many, if not most, business owners. In today's podcast, Colin Nolan, Sr. Business Coach at NCG, dissects three barriers to scalability and growth, based on Vern Harnish's book, Scaling Up. Business is complex, and growth is even more so!

At NCG, we work with clients through a variety of challenges - owners trying to get out of the hourglass, growth plateaus, succession planning, organizational and systems development, and more ... so this is a hot topic for us. If growth is the mission, our goal is to help businesses identify these roadblocks in their own organization and provide some insight to change. Listen in to see if any of these barriers could be halting the growth of your organization.

Have you ever heard, or said, " I wish my employees were more "accountable?" What is it we are really asking for? Is it accountability, or is it responsibility? On today's podcast, Molly Nolan is joined by Andrew Amrhein, Sr. Business Coach & Director of Finance at NCG for a conversational take on the difference between Accountability and Responsibility. How do we ask for action or improvement? If accountability is the goal, does asking for more accountability help? Or do we really want responsibility - the feeling of loyalty, commitment, or duty to the behaviors it takes to achieve the goal? Are we asking for what we want ...at work, and at home? We're talking about feelings today...get ready and listen in!

When was the last time... "you lost track of time, utterly engaged with what you were doing?" "you instinctively volunteered for something?" "you surprised yourself with how well you did?"

These intriguing questions are from NYT Best Selling Author, Marcus Buckinghams's most recent publication Love + Work - the focus of this week's episode!

Four of our NCG Team Members, Brian Nolan, Kathryn Freeman, Colin Nolan & Sydney Bates host this edition of the NCG Book Club for an engaging discussion. The discussion revolves around what it means to "love" what you do and understanding how you can use what you love to reveal your unique talents and pinpoint what makes YOU stand out from others.

We're incorporating the strategies from Love +Work into our culture here at NCG's going forward... So if you hear us talking about the power of identifying our "red threads" and are looking for context, pick up a copy of the book and get in on the conversation!

This week we're featuring an excerpt from our Job Site Leadership Workshop - one of the most requested development courses that we offer here at Nolan Consulting Group.

Facilitated by NCG Managing Partner Brian Nolan, and Conal Mulreany, Field Supervisor at Nolan Painting & Field Consultant at NCG, this workshop is designed to provide Production Management leaders with the critical awareness of each leg of the Operational Stool: Employee Management, Customer Management & Job Management. This particular excerpt begins with an element that impacts the culture of the field environment - values. Do your employees understand the values of your company - are they living those values in the workplace?

The discussion also taps into the power of emotional intelligence. As a leader and manager of people, how do you respond to situations - both positive and negative? Are you aware of the impact your words have?

To quote Benjamin Franklin, "Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place at the right time but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at a tempting moment."

Brian and Conal are passionate about this topic, and no matter what industry you are in, this discussion will impact your leadership.

On today's podcast, we have the privilege of welcoming Josh Abramson, Chief Solutionist and Director of Happiness at ALLBRiGHT Painting based in Los Angeles, CA. In this conversation, Josh and Molly discuss Brand Power - what drives the inspiration and creativity behind the marketing at ALLBRiGHT Painting. Brand power is more than getting leads in the door - the impact is multifaceted and is grounded in the authenticity of the mission statement. For Josh and his ALLBRiGHT Team - this means Painting Happiness.

Tune into this great conversation with Josh to hear how the company and brand evolved, and what he learned in the process. Josh also discusses new projects they are involved in and the impact on the community. We want to thank Josh for sharing his story, his time, and lessons learned and we wish you an ALLBRiGHT day!

This week's Out of the Hourglass podcast features the latest edition of the Business is Messy Series featuring Brian Nolan, Managing Partner of Nolan Consulting Group, and Kevin Nolan, CEO of Nolan Painting & Partner at NCG.

If you are new to the podcast, the Business is Messy Series is a quarterly check-in with Brian and Kevin on the state of the business environment. Molly Nolan hosts the discussion as they talk about the successes, challenges…and the messes that come with running a Small Business. Or as Brian likes to joke, Kevin shares the messes and Brian cleans them up!

This time - we’re talking about the economy. To be clear, this is not an episode about recession fear, but about putting strategy behind an unpredictable economy. It's about being prepared, taking action, and getting smart about controlling the controllable. This is about acknowledging what we know to be true and doing our best to get ahead of the game.

Listen in as Brian and Kevin share insight on what they are hearing and experiencing firsthand and give recommendations for how to prepare your business for turbulent economic times. We've had them before, they are happening now, and they will come again.

This week we're bringing something different to the podcast! We're featuring a compelling excerpt from the most recent Sales Fundamentals Boot Camp facilitated by NCG Senior Coach Andrew Amrhein and Jim Falk, Sr. Estimator at Nolan Painting and Sales Trainer & Consultant with Nolan Consulting Group. The Sales Boot Camp focuses on the execution of the “original” Sales Process - this particular excerpt highlights the importance of asking the often dreaded "budget questions". When it comes to qualifying a prospect, there is perhaps no more important step than making sure that a future client can pay for your product or service, yet that conversation is often approached with trepidation. Listen in on this lively discussion as Andrew and Jim walk us through the importance of this step, as well as offer strategies, word tracks and questions to uncover if your prospect has a budget...and working the close.

Brian Nolan, Managing Partner of Nolan Consulting Group, joins Molly Nolan in this week's podcast, for a deep dive into the core mission of NCG - getting small business owners Out of the Hourglass. Brian explains what it means to be stuck in the hourglass, in a variety of scenarios, and how NCG helps owners transition out of the hourglass at different points of their business lifecycle.

From implementing systems and knowing your numbers, to creating scalable excellence and high-performance teams, Brian covers the key components of escaping the hourglass and building a "value business." This intriguing discussion will leave you with renewed motivation and inspiration to pursue your own vision ...or to create one if you haven't yet!

In this week's podcast, NCG Sr. Business Coach, Colin Nolan joins Molly Nolan for a practical discussion of how DISC can be applied to customer relations. As many listeners know, DISC is a behavioral assessment tool that we often refer to in conversations on this podcast, and within our Coaching and Consulting practice. We've discussed how DISC can be used to understand behaviors & motivators, improve organizational communication and engagement, and provide valuable insight for hiring and management decisions. Today's application is all about the customer - Colin shares with us how we can apply our awareness of DISC and emotional intelligence to relate to our customers better - whether closing the sale, dealing with difficult situations, or enhancing the overall customer experience.

Description: This week's podcast episode features a topic that has been an ongoing challenge for businesses across all industries - Recruiting and Retaining employees. Molly is joined by Kevin Nolan, CEO of Nolan Paining and Colleen Nolan, Director of Human Resources at Nolan Painting as they share how they have been working to combat this issue at their organization, brainstorming and grinding in the day to day to make sure they have the team to in place to fulfill the high demand of work that keeps the phones ringing. The discussion reveals how they have shifted perceptive, learned to welcome new ways of thought and agility in decision making, leaned into creativity, invested in their people, and continue to go after the long game by focusing on bringing young people into the trades. They have finally found success in increasing their FOS numbers over the last few months and while they know they've tapped into a strategy that is working, they also realize the need to stay on their toes - since nothing is a constant in this environment!

The NCG Book Club returns again! This month, we're discussing Part 1 of Coaching for Breakthrough Success ~ Proven Techniques for Making Impossible Dreams Possible by Jack Canfield and Dr. Peter Chee.

In the book, Canfield & Dr. Chee deliver what they believe to be the Top 30 Coaching Principals that every coach needs to practice in order to succeed. The principals are all encompassing - from breaking down the critical steps needed to build relationship and trust, to what it means to have a coaching spirit, to the power of listening, intuition and asking the right type of questions.

In the discussion, our team highlights what principals have the greatest impact on them and how they apply to their own practices. In sharing this book with you, our team encourages our listeners to apply these principles to strengthen your own coaching skills.

Since we are about halfway through 2022, today's podcast features a Mid-Year Planning Status Check! NCG's Director of Finance & Sr. Business Coach, Andrew Amrhein reminds listeners of the importance of keeping a pulse of the metrics and reviewing where you stand in the plan that you set at the beginning of this year. During this crazy busy time of year, how do we take the time to make sure we’re not making decisions that are taking us off track? Andrew highlights the metrics to stay on top of, the conversations that need to happen and gives recommendations for working through the uncertainty of what the months ahead may bring.

We hope that this mid-year status check helps you stay dialed on the health of your organization and sets the tone for a successful second half of 2022!

If you are an avid Out of the Hourglass podcast listener or are working with our team, "DISC" is a term you have heard frequently. In today's Out of the Hourglass podcast, Molly Nolan is joined by NCG's Business Systems Specialist Sydney Bates for an in-depth unraveling of DISC.

Listen and learn as Sydney breaks down DISC concepts by highlighting the behaviors and motivators revealed through the DISC assessment, what they actually mean, and how they work together. Molly and Sydney apply these concepts to training conversations, hiring and recruiting, organizational role deep dives and communication. If you’ve taken the DISC before, find your results after listening to this episode and see what new insight you've gained!

In today's podcast, we have the pleasure of hearing some powerful and practical insight from Sheldon Stewart, Summit Member & NCG Member Coach and President of Stewart Painting based in Hyannis & Hingham, Massachusetts. Sheldon shares with us his experience through the process of creating the Board of Directors at Stewart Painting and where he is at in the journey. It's process that has been incredibly well thought out and reflects his succession plan for his business. We’ve worked with Sheldon and his team for over a decade which makes this current topic and his planning for retirement both rewarding and humbling. We have much respect for Sheldon and his business and hope this conversation will inspire you to be intentional about planning for your own future along with the future of your business.

Our podcast today features a topic that is near and dear to our hearts, the role of the Coach. This powerful conversation with two respected leaders, Brian Nolan, Managing Partner at Nolan Consulting Group, and Paul Cook, VP of Painters USA, Summit Member and Member Coach, will challenge you to think about who is looking to YOU as a coach.

At NCG, we have the immense privilege to work with many business owners and organizational leaders in a coaching capacity to help them achieve their desired visions and accomplish their personal and organizational goals. It’s a position that is both incredibly rewarding and challenging. This conversation centers on the skills and behaviors that are critical to succeed in the role of the coach. As you listen, consider who is looking to YOU as a coach. As a leader, business owner, or manager of people, you have a coaching responsibility - you just might not realize it.

Today’s episode features the NCG Book Club and April’s book of the month, Fish!: A Proven Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results by Stephen C. Lundin. While it might have been the shortest book in length so far, its message is far-reaching and filled with timeless wisdom. It's the story of a flailing corporate culture that meets the wildly engaging Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle, WA where the Fishmongers practice the FISH! philosophy., comprised of 4 simple rules.

Today's podcast is a two-part conversation hosted by NCG Coach and Director of Operations, Kathryn Freeman. In this episode, Kathryn sits down with Paul Cook, Vice President of Painters USA with locations throughout Chicago and Dallas, and Hernan Jimenez, Safety Manager at Nolan Painting, based just outside Philadelphia to discuss the critically important topic of safety.

To begin the conversation, Paul share his WHY - how an integral moment forever changed his and his company's view on safety in the workplace, and the imperative need for leadership to take on this responsibility. Hernan then discusses his role as Safety Manager, his approach to teaching and training employees, and the necessity of a shared commitment to safety among management and the team.

Nolan Consulting Group challenges the organizations we work with to develop and maintain a culture of safety. In addition to our Summit Safety Certification Program, this summer, we’ll be kicking off a Safety Peer Group! As you listen to this episode, think about safety’s place in your own organization and what you can learn from the experiences of others.

Today’s podcast episode features our special guest Jeff Wraley, Founder of Groundwork, a virtual sales tool for contractors. We initially met Jeff in early 2020 when Groundwork was in its infancy and prior to the COVID pandemic. The timing was impeccable as Jeff brought a virtual sales tool to the service industry right as a virtual world of interaction became a necessity.

In this episode, Jeff looks back at his entrepreneurial journey and shares what current and future trends he and his team are seeing in the intersection of technology and the sales process. To learn more about Groundwork, check out https://www.hellogroundwork.com/

Nolan Painting CEO and Nolan Consulting Group Partner and Coach, Kevin Nolan joins us on Today's Podcast Episode, for Customer Issues & Crucial Conversations. Kevin draws on his 30 + years of experience to address a request about how to manage those tough situations where jobs don't go quite as well as promised and the fallout that can ensue. While these jobs are few in quantity, they can swiftly derail the team, suck the energy out of operations, and do serious damage to the company’s reputation if not handled well.

A quick shout out to Brian McCracken, President of All American Painting Plus in Reston, VA for this episode request! If you have a podcast topic request, please reach out - we’d love to make it happen!

Today's episode features TWO of our extended team members and partners from Nolan Painting: Jim Falk - Senior Estimator at Nolan Painting and Sales Trainer with NCG, AND Conal Mulreany, Field Supervisor at Nolan Painting and Field & Ops Trainer with NCG. We are thrilled to have Jim and Conal on this podcast together as they unravel the unique relationship between the sales and operations departments of a growing, fast-paced, service-oriented organization.

Through the conversation, Jim and Conal share how their departments work together - how Nolan Painting has adapted to strengthen the relationship and meet the departmental challenges that arise. They provide recommendations on how to establish better communication channels and demonstrate that the success of the Sales/Ops relationship is built upon constant collaboration, communication, and most importantly, respect. Much gratitude to Conal and Jim for getting real about what it means to be a TEAM!

Today’s episode features NCG’s Director of Operations and Sr. Business Coach Kathryn Freeman, joined by NCG Sr. Business Coach, Colin Nolan for a conversation on company culture from a hiring perspective. What does "a culture fit” really mean? Have you defined what your company culture actually is? Have you mistaken culture fit with personal affect? Colin and Kathryn work through the complicated matter of how the personality and behaviors of individuals and the role they are hired for play into company culture.

Today we’re bringing you a special episode, one that was generated from a recent webinar, Bringing KPIs Into Focus, led by NCG Sr. Coach and Director of Finance, Andrew Amrhein. At Nolan Consulting Group, we strongly believe businesses should be utilizing KPIs, key performance indicators, to keep a pulse on the health of the business. In this episode, Andrew highlights 7 unique KPIs and shares the impact that KPI awareness makes on your business strategy and the directional health of your company's financial statements. A special thanks to Dylan Ehlert, Director of Finance and Operations at Two Dudes Painting in Lancaster, PA for jumping into the conversation and sharing how the Dudes are using KPIs relating to employee retention and the impact of turnover. Lastly, a note to NCG clients - If specific questions arise as you listen to this episode, we encourage you to talk to your coach and take note of the KPIs you would like to focus on in the year ahead.

In today's episode, the NCG Book Club is back with a lively discussion on “Winning on Purpose: The unbeatable strategy of Loving Customers” by Fred Reicheld, facilitated by Michael Murray, President of Textbook Painting and Member Coach with NCG. This book reconstructs how NPS (Net Promoter Score) is used and analyzed within businesses. Winning on Purpose suggests that the primary purpose of business should be to enrich the lives of customers, and that deeply investing in the customers and their experience with your company brings back THEIR business and kickstarts their friends' business interactions, leading to earned growth and increased profits.

This discussion and the book itself have inspired us to think harder about NPS and its place as a critical KPI in our financial workbook going forward. If the NPS system is new to you - don’t worry! We start off our conversation defining the system before jumping into the book highlights and takeaways.

This week we are thrilled to celebrate Nolan Consulting Group’s 18th year in business AND our 100th episode of the Out of the Hourglass podcast! To mark this occasion, Brian Nolan and Kevin Nolan, take a walk down memory lane in today's episode, sharing how this business and their partnership has both served their lives and the gratitude for all who have been a part of it. From the logistics of our first workshops in the shop garage, the growth of the Summit Group and the story of the organization to where it is today... It has truly been an amazing journey!

From all of us at Nolan Consulting Group - We Thank You - our listeners and our clients for being a part of the NCG journey…and for letting us be a part of yours.

Today’s episode features Brian Nolan, Managing Partner, and Colin Nolan, Sr. Business Coach, for a discussion on self-leadership development. Where do you see yourself in the future? Where do you want to go? What is the Primary Aim? Brian and Colin discuss experiences in their own leadership journey and share how using a variety of development tools can help guide you on your way to reaching your goal. From podcasts and books to collaborating with peers, these tools can be the first step on the journey of making you a better leader.

Today’s episode celebrates a major transition time in the life of NCG Business Coach, Jerry Block... he is retiring! When we reflect on Jerry’s time with NCG, we can’t help but be sad to see him go! Despite that, we must celebrate all his accomplishments and take the opportunity to tap into the wisdom he has to share. In this episode, Jerry shares with us his lessons learned throughout his professional career and reminds us all the TEAM you work with is your second family.... it's the team that wins together.

NCG's Senior Business Coaches Brian Nolan, Managing Partner & Andrew Amrhein, Director of Finance, connect for a conversation on how to get good at decision making! From highlighting the practice of the debate time, to the key elements of management team dynamics and the creation of a decision-making matrix, Brian and Andrew discuss the need to create a formal decision-making process for your company.

You may remember this line from Kim Scott’s Radical Candor; “Debate Time does NOT equal Decision Time.” Are you systemizing the communication process within your team?

On today's episode, NCG’s Director of Operations and Sr. Business Coach, Kathryn Freeman, joins us for another conversation about a role on the organizational chart. This time, we’re talking about the Chief Revenue Officer, also referred to as the CRO. While typically a role title spoken in a corporate environment, its function and strategic intent have an important place in the world of Small Business, especially for those with growth oriented intentions, looking for a desire to scale.

The NCG Book Club continues with a discussion on Daniel Pink’s, Drive, The Surprising Truth that Motivates Us. Facilitated by NCG Coach, Colin Nolan, our group highlights the major takeaways, and personal applications of Pink’s concepts - a step away from the traditional thoughts of motivational drivers. Pink describes the evolution of Human Motivation - one that began at the early need for survival (Motivation 1.0) to his most recent theory of Motivation 3.0 - a compilation of autonomy, mastery, and purpose.

By understanding the intrinsic vs extrinsic desires of yourself, the people around you, and the environment best suited for your operating style, we are empowering each other with the tools to succeed and ultimately, generating the framework of our primary aims. Like what you hear on the episode? We highly encourage Drive to be added to your reading list for further concept exploration and personal application.

In today's episode we are joined again by Andrew Amrhein, Director of Finance and Sr Business Coach at Nolan Consulting Group for a follow up conversation on our Levels of Work series. It's been a year since we kicked off the original series yet this topic still remains crucial in its context to role clarity. Andrew discusses the importance of distinction between tasks and responsibilities at different levels and how people thrive off of clarity of vision and functions.

If this is a new concept or if you're looking for a refresher you can find the Levels of Work Series Level 1-4 episodes in our podcast library (January - March 2021)

Today's episode features the third installment of our Entrepreneurial Spirit Series! NCG's Sr. Business Coach & Director of Operations, Kathryn Freeman, is joined by Lori Delin, President & Co-Owner of Tru-Colors Contracting, 24 Hour Floor and My Stack Box Storage all located in beautiful Pompano Beach, FL.

Lori shares how her entrepreneurial spirit started from a young age and grew into a passion for solving problems and growing businesses. Over the years she has never shied away from taking risks or being afraid to fail. Lori’s strategic decisions have paved the way for the growth of successful business organizations and allowed her to help others rethink their potential. If there is a challenge in her way, Lori looks for the opportunity.

Today's episode brings you the latest edition of the Business is Messy Series and the first of 2022! Brian Nolan, Managing Partner of NCG and Kevin Nolan, CEO of Nolan Painting & Partner at NCG, come together to discuss the ever present challenges businesses are continuing to face and the current happenings at Nolan Painting!

From snow storms, to labor shortages, continuing Covid impacts, sales rate challenges and more, we must remember to keep expecting the unexpected. This year is already looking like one for the books!

The first episode of the year features NCG's Sr. Business Coach, Colin Nolan and Rob Yarbro, Owner and President of Western View Painting (formally Wyoming View Painting) based in Laramie & Casper, WY. Rob tells the story of his trajectory into becoming an owner of a painting company and highlights the vision of company growth in a larger geographical territory - opening multiple locations from the start! Presenting unique challenges and opportunities, it has quickly required the standardization of processes, strong emphasis on team culture and optimal organizational consistency across multiple teams that are working hours apart.

Our last episode of 2021 features our December Book Club selection, Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity. Scott defines the concept of Radical Candor as the intersection of Caring Personally while Challenging Directly. At its core, Radical Candor empowers us to give guidance and feedback that’s both kind and clear, specific and sincere. This book hit home for many of our team members and challenged our way of thinking and approach to the conversations we have with all audiences in our lives.

Throughout the book, Scott provides tools to utilize, a framework for giving guidance and many personal examples of when she failed at or succeeded in practicing radical candor in her own life experiences. It's a great read and we would highly encourage it to be added to your reading list!

Today's episode features Kevin Nolan, CEO of Nolan Painting and Partner at Nolan Consulting Group, for our annual yearly review and look ahead! Kevin recaps some of the major events of 2021 and where they stacked up against the 2021 vision, highlights the overarching plans for what's to come in 2022 from the Big Rocks to Revenue Goals, lastly, reminds us that sharing the plan remains essential for success. We create the plan, and we cascade the plan.

Today's episode features a Social Media Expert, Consultant and Founder of Content Fresh, Deborah York Salisbury! Content Fresh is a digital marketing agency specializing in social media strategy, content creation, SEO, and website development. As a social media guru Deb gives us insight into the world of social media. How much money should you be spending on social media marketing? What platform should you use? What is the best way to engage with customers on social media? Deb answers all these questions and more!

In our second installment of our Entrepreneurial Spirit Series, NCG's Sr. Business Coach & Director of Operations, Kathryn Freeman, is joined by Nate Anderson, Owner and CEO of Anderson Painting in Raleigh, NC. Nate shares his deep passion around mission based entrepreneurship and helping people reach their fullest potential. Over the years, Nate has assisted many refugees acclimate to the community and provided them a welcoming place of employment.

This community work has positively impacted the business and the growth potential is high reaching - that’s what we call doing well by doing good! It’s an amazing story and we thank you, Nate for sharing your perspective on how utilize your skills and entrepreneurial spirit to change the lives of others

Welcome to December .... Welcome to Planning Season! As we welcome in the new year next month, now is a the time to be planning for 2022. Today's episode features a timely discussion on the Cascading Planning Process (CPP) between NCG's Managing Partner, Brian Nolan and Andrew Amrhein, Director of Finance & Sr. Coach!

Brian and Andrew discuss recommendations for 2022 and highlight the function of the CPP, a cycle of planning activities, that we use to help our clients solidify their plans and goals for the year. From visioning and budgeting to creating accountability and structure, the CPP is designed to map out the Big Rocks! And most importantly, we hope this episode serves as a reminder of how essential it is to be cascading the plan down through the organization, all members of the team should have a line of sight to the vision.

This time of year reminds us to take a moment to pause and reflect on the things that we are most thankful for. Today's episode features a few members of our Nolan Consulting Group team expressing their thoughts of gratitude both personally and professionally. We hope that after listening to this week's episode you are inspired to share your messages of gratitude with your family, friends, colleagues and teams.

Today's episode kicks off the Entrepreneurial Spirit Series, a series of upcoming episodes hosted by NCG's Sr. Business Coach & Director of Operations, Kathryn Freeman, for a discussion on understanding what drives the energy and determination in the entrepreneurial journeys of some of our Summit Member Business Owners. From family and community passion, to the mission and strategies behind why they do what they do, each has a story and great wisdom to share.

Today we start with Bill Kelly, a long time Summit Member and Owner of Kelly Brothers Painting based in Truckee, CA. Bill's entrepreneurial spirit inspired him to create Kelly Enterprises & Companies, focusing on a diverse group of entrepreneurial outlets where he is able to truly live out his desire to diversify life and prioritize the balance between work, business, play and family. Thank you Bill for your willingness to share - from what drives you, to lessons learned and the importance of doing what makes you happy.

Today's episode features our Director of Operations and Sr. Business Coach Kathryn Freeman with a great one on one conversation with Brian Stauffer, Owner of JRS Landscaping & Custom Creations. Kathryn and Brian continue our conversations around cascading change. Brian shares how implementing Green Books for new employees originally failed but now has transformed his business leading to the start of a training program. As you listen to this week's episode of Out of the Hourglass, think about how you can fail forward and cascade change when challenges arise.

Today's episode takes a deep dive into the world of marketing with a focus on the importance of your company's online reputation with special guest, Chris Kiefer, Marketing Manager at Webfoot Painting & Webfoot Concrete Coatings.

Chris brings his passion for marketing to the episode, but more specifically highlights how companies can leverage their online reviews for success! From organically providing greater lead generation and SEO benefits, to the strategies for quantity AND quality, Chris introduces us to Boolean, a new program that Webfoot is utilizing with amazing success to drive more customers to leave quality online Google Reviews! Listen today and take notes - Chris has wisdom to share!

Today's episode, hosted by our very own Brian Nolan, centers on the topic of ownerships vs. management and to highlight the clarity and distinct functions of the two, Brian is joined by Jared Byas, Founder of Common Good Family Business Advisors & NCG Coach.

Jared helps us to better understand the roles in which these two functions play, explains that ownership doesn’t always equal management and highlights the importance of the transparent dynamics in the relationship - from values and vision alignment, to social capital, cascading the decision matrix and so much more.

At our 2021 Grand Summit Conference in Nashville, TN, we were lucky to have two awesome Summit members take the stage. directly following Brian Nolan's keynote on Cascading Change: Travis Ulrich, Co Owner & Director of Operations of Webfoot Painting and Ryan Parsons, Chief Solutions at the Brothers that Just Do Gutters. Today's episode highlights their moments sharing their Change Initiatives in front of the Summit group and gave insight on how this impacted their companies.

Today's episode brings you the latest edition of the Business is Messy Series with Kevin Nolan, CEO of Nolan Painting & Partner at NCG joined by Brian Nolan, Managing Partner of NCG. Brian & Kevin discuss the ever present challenges businesses are continuing to face and the current happenings at Nolan Painting!

They'll also share highlights and lessons learned as they talk through the operational challenges at a recent event of which they both endured a thrilling adventure, or as Kevin calls it "The best experience he can't recommend!'

We're back for the the final episode of the KPIs by Department Series with NCG Senior Coach & Director of Finance, Andrew Amrhein. We're moving into the Counting and Calculating of the Human Resources & Accounting Department. From recruiting and training analytics to the day receivables and job costing expectations, we highlight recommendations, the why behind them and encourage you to make tracking a focus to guide future decisions. This episode Out of the Hourglass is brought to you by GRACO.

Today's episode features the NCG team discussing our September book club selection, Think Again: The Power of Knowing What you Don't Know. Each team member reflects on their biggest take away from the book and it's impact. From rethinking long held opinions to finding common ground with an opponent, Think Again challenges us to practice the critical art of rethinking.

Today's episode sponsored by Company Cam, features a discussion with Kevin Nolan, CEO of Nolan Painting, and Partner at Nolan Consulting Group. All of us would love to achieve the perfect balance between our career goals and our personal life. Using a written primary aim as a guide, Kevin gives his valuable insight on how to prioritize one aspect of your life over another without feeling unfulfilled and burnt out. As you listen to this week's episode, think about your work/life balance now and how you can use a primary aim to improve upon it for the future.

Today's episode sponsored by Groundwork, features a new voice to the podcast NCG Business Coach, Vince Christy. Vince leverages his extensive experience in all realms of Property Management to give you multiple tips and tricks to maximize your relationship with your PM. Taking on a contract at a commercial property such as an apartment complex or hotel brings lots of unique challenges.

Vince helps you better understand the roles and responsibilities of a Property Manager, while also sharing strategies on how to manage expectations, improve your communication, and even how to find commercial contracts.

Today's episode sponsored by Graco, features NCG Senior Business Coach and Director of Finance, Andrew Amrhein for another episode of our KPIs by Department Series. This time we are focusing on both Inside and Outside Operations. These two departments prepare and carry out the work of the work. The data produced by these KPIs helps us better understand efficiencies in company processes, how effective your training program is, and more. Andrew provides wisdom on how to best implement and interpret these KPIs and encourages us to look at a different perspective when it comes to collecting and tracking the information for forward thinking.

Today's episode sponsored by Sherwin Williams, features NCG Managing Partner and Senior Business Coach, Brian Nolan recapping our Grand Summit held just a few weeks ago in Nashville, TN. It was truly wonderful to get to finally see each other in person again, and meet new Summit members! In case you weren't able to join us this time, Brian shares some of his most powerful takeaways and highlights from the conference.

Today's episode features some of our best highlights from past episodes. Take a listen to some of the episodes released this year and focus on the subjects that really struck home. You will hear clips from five past discussions, featuring a variety of voices and topics ranging from conquering resistance, understanding how to leverage DISC profiles and recruiting tactics. We encourage you to listen to the full episodes if a particular highlight really captures your interest.

Today's episode sponsored by Sherwin-Williams features NCG Senior Business Coach and Director of Operations, Kathryn Freeman and our host Molly Nolan discussing the role of the Human Resources department in a business. No matter the size of your business, having a defined process for HR related responsibilities is crucial. You do not need to be an expert to start implementing HR processes! Kathryn explores some of the first steps to starting an HR department, when the right time to do this is, and how to find the right person for the job in this week's episode of Out of the Hourglass.

Today's episode sponsored by Company Cam features NCG Senior Business Coach and Director of Finance, Andrew Amrhein discussing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the Sales and Marketing departments. You can't grow unless you know your numbers, where your leads are coming from and where your sales team is most effective! Andrew discusses some of the most important KPIs for these two interconnected departments. As well as, when and how to interpret and implement your analysis successfully.

Today's episode sponsored by Reach Local features NCG Director of Operations, and Senior Business Coach, Kathryn Freeman, accompanied by another of our NCG Coaches, Colin Nolan. Having effective one on ones with your employees is crucial for employee development. From keeping employees engaged to the most appropriate time for scheduling, Kathryn and Colin share a recipe of sorts for maximizing the success of these meetings in this week's episode of Out of the Hourglass.

Today's episode sponsored by Odell Studner brings you the latest episode in our Business is Messy series. NCG Senior Business Coach Brian Nolan and Nolan Painting President Kevin Nolan unpack this summer's business messes at Nolan Painting. This summer has been one for the books! The messes include understanding employee engagement, dealing with material shortages, how to manage customer expectations when working with an extensive backlog and more! Pick up new tips on how to navigate these messes in your business on this week's podcast.

Today's episode sponsored by Bookkeeping For Trades features NCG Senior Business Coach and Director of Finance, Andrew Amrhein discussing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) by Organizational Department. From Sales to HR, the Field and the Office, developing and tracking KPIs by specific departments is going to help you make critical adjustments in your execution to achieve your strategic goals.

An an introductory episode to our upcoming KPIs Series, Andrew flies over what metrics your team should be paying attention to with some ideas on how to best interpret the data into meaningful action to help your business succeed.

Today's episode features NCG Managing Partner and Senior Business Coach, Brian Nolan on the topic of CHANGE. When it's time to make a change in a business environment, it often makes us uncomfortable and is met with lots of questions. What if we can change the way that change is perceived and implemented from the ownership down to the feet on the street?

Brian shares his thoughts on why some change attempts fail, and why others succeed, specifically through the strategic method of cascading so that all parts of the organization are in tune, aware and on board.

Today's episode, sponsored by Groundwork, features a special guest, Peter Barber, Co-owner of Two Dudes Painting Company. When it comes to Brand Power - Two Dudes takes it to the next level. Their logo is a bright Orange Volkswagen Bus after all!

Those who know the Dudes can attest to their fun, creative and unique take on what it means to run a business, but more importantly how deeply rooted they are in the community. It’s the drive to give back, be present and nurture the relationships with those in their neighborhood that has solidified their brand success. Peter gives us a glimpse into the Two Dudes World and shares some words of wisdom when it comes to building a brand for success.

Today's episode, sponsored by Shurtape Technologies, features NCG Managing Partner and Senior Business Coach, Brian Nolan accompanied by Terrance Nolan, Senior Project Developer at Borrego Solar. If you're afraid to fail, you will never win. Brian and Terrance continue their discussion around battling resistance, as well as, how we can all find ourselves on the Hero's Journey. The journey in which we strive to understand push back, embrace self awareness, and how to overcome mistakes to become the best versions of ourselves.

Today's episode features the NCG team discussing our June book club selection, The Dichotomy of Leadership by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin. Knowing how to balance the nuances of leadership is extremely challenging. The team unpacks their takeaways on some tough topics such as when to lead and when to follow, when is the right time to move someone into a different role better suited for them, how to grow through pressure, and much more!

Today's episode, sponsored by Bookkeeping for Trades, features a discussion surrounding the power of a bookkeeper with NCG Business Coach, Kathryn Freeman. Understanding and knowing your numbers is vital to operating. Hiring a great bookkeeper is a tremendous asset to improving your business. In fact, hiring a bookkeeper actually saves you money in the long run. What should you be looking for when you are hiring a bookkeeper? How do you best create a relationship and integrate them into your business? All this and more on today's episode!

Today's episode features a conversation between NCG Business Coach, Colin Nolan and Steve Talkington, Owner of Lancaster Painting and NCG Business Coach. Hiring an apprentice opens a huge door of opportunity in your company. Developing an effective training plan in addition to having the right mindset can make or break if the apprentice will turn into a career long employee. The buy-in from your production leaders in the field plays a critical role and will make or break the long term success. It's a culture shift.

Today's episode features a conversation between NCG Business Coach, Colin Nolan and Jon Bryant, Chief of Color at Urban Painter and Founder of PaintScout. PaintScout is an estimation, sales, proposal, invoicing and work order software for painting contractors designed for you to take your painting business to the next level. Estimating is both a science and an art. Being a great estimator requires a ton of nuance and understanding of the industry. What are the qualities that you should look for when hiring an Estimator? Once hired, how can you test that your training process is giving the skills needed to be an effective Estimator?

Today's episode features Nolan Painting Community Outreach Coordinator Claire Nolan with a spotlight on Community Engagement and Nolan in the Neighborhood. This discussion highlights ways to be intentional when it comes to getting your business involved in the community and Claire shares details about the role she plays to help bring Nolan Painting's "Nolan the Neighborhood" program together. Tapping into what really drives you and your employees on a personal level is a great place to start when looking to get involved in an activity in your community. It can be as simple as donating to a family in need or as grand as sponsoring an event. These activities also serve as a great team building opportunity!

Today's episode features Nolan Consulting Group Sr. Business Coaches, Kathryn Freeman and Andrew Amrhein. Today we're bringing you a bonus episode from the Levels of Work Series with a conversation centered on rethinking the way that you interview potential employees for your company. What improvements would you see if you started to view the process as matching rather than interviewing? Clarity is key! By changing the way that you prepare and approach the conversation you can gain a stronger insight if the person would be successful in the role. As well as saving you time in the long run!

Today's episode features Nolan Painting Field Supervisor, Conal Mulreany & Painters USA Vice President, Paul Cook. Committing to a culture of safety and making it the forefront of your business will help to prevent the unfortunate tragedies that can happen in the industry and make your company a better place to work. How often do you talk about safety with your team? Paul and Conal remind us that it should be a critical component of your business operations and that the opportunity to improve on its presence through training and daily emphasis is a constant.

As you listen to this week's podcast, consider the safety culture in your company and where the gaps may fall. Are you Summit Safety Certified? Check out our certification process to get the standards in place!

It's no secret that the Operations team plays a critical role in making the wheels turn in a business. The head of the Operations Department is often the face of your business in the day to day. Juggling many roles and responsibilities makes it crucial to ensure that you have the right person for the job. Today's episode features NCG Managing Partner Brian Nolan for a fantastic discussion on questions pertaining to: What makes a person the right fit for this role... What KPI's can you set for someone in this role... and How should an Operational leader solve problems?

As you listen to this week's podcast consider the Operational leaders in your company and how you can improve their impact on your business.

Today's episode features a discussion between NCG Managing Partner Brian Nolan and NCG Business Coach Kathryn Freeman. Having a discussion with an employee who is not performing as well as you would like can be difficult. This week we unpack how to navigate that important conversation as well as tools that you can use to ensure that your employees understand the vision for their roll from the time they are hired. Developing your employees is an ongoing tasks.

As you listen to this week's podcast consider if there are any employees in your company that may benefit from a well designed Performance Improvement Plan!

Today's episode brings you the latest edition of Lessons in Leadership with Brian Nolan & Kevin Nolan and our Business is Messy Series! Brian & Kevin unpack this month's (and week's!) current business messes at Nolan Painting including topics such as battling employee retention and competitive wages, managing difficult customers, handling lawsuits and more! As everyone in the contracting industry knows, a dull day never goes by.

Pick up new tips on how to navigate these messes in your business and take on the week on this podcast episode.

The Sales Guys are back with some new faces! Today's episode features a discussion between NCG Business Coaches, Andrew Amrhein & Colin Nolan along with great insights from NCG Member Coach, Chuck Winkles and Nolan Painting Senior Estimator, Jim Falk. As the Spring rush arrives and the summer months approach, the team discusses the challenges surrounding selling in a high demand environment. Chuck and Jim weigh in with their experience from the field on managing customer expectations when you are scheduling out months in advance. How can you utilize different pieces of the Sales Process to overcome these challenges?

Today's episode features a discussion between NCG Business Coaches, Andrew Amrhein & Kathryn Freeman along with some highlights from NCG Marketing & Program Manager, Molly Nolan. The team wraps up our Levels of Work Series in this episode focusing on the last level, Level 4. How do Levels 1, 2, and 3 support Level 4? How can you prepare someone for a Level 4 role? How do you utilize Level 4 work in your company? Listen to this week's podcast to find out - or start at the beginning of the series to gain foundational knowledge!

Today's episode features a discussion between NCG Business Coach, Colin Nolan and NCG Marketing & Program Manager, Molly Nolan on the topic of hiring a General Manager! Have you thought about what it might look like to bring a GM role into the fold? For many business owners, this seems like a daunting task - What is my true purpose for this hire? How do I make sure this person is the right fit? When is the right time for me to let go? Molly and Colin unpack all of this and more in this week's podcast!

Today's episode features NCG Managing Partner, Brian Nolan with a new guest to the podcast, Brian's Brother, Terrence Nolan! Resistance is a force that we ALL battle - personally & professionally, small and large. It comes at us DAILY!

Why do we hold back on certain aspects of our life? How can we fight the head trash that resistance feeds us? Terrence and Brian have an energetic conversation on resistance in their own lives and tactics for how they went to combat with the force. For further reading on the topic of resistance, we HIGHLY recommend The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield. That book inspired this conversation!

Today's episode features NCG Partner and President of Nolan Painting, Kevin Nolan for a discussion on Spring Recruiting and details on a new Co-Op Program they've started with a local School District to recruit potential employees in the future - and show them the potential for a successful career!

Recruiting for the trades is an issue that is felt from Coast to Coast and the question remains, what else can we do to find people? How else can we be creative? It continues to be an ongoing discussion of best practices and today's episode is just that!

Today's episode features NCG Coaches Andrew Amrhein & Kathryn Freeman in a continuation of their Levels of Work Series - today focusing on Level 3!

Kathryn and Andrew discuss the framework of what defines a Level 3, and what kind of tasks and work capacity lives in that stage. As you listen, consider what tasks and operational functions are Level 3 work in your company. Have you given appropriate tasks and roles to the correct employees? Are you setting them up to fail or to succeed?

Today’s Episode features NCG Managing Partner, Brian Nolan, and a discussion on the Role of the CEO. Hosted by Molly Nolan, the two have a lively discussion on what to expect out of yourself as a CEO.

Many Summit Members join us, eager to get themselves out of the hourglass, and do exactly that! But what happens once the business owner feels free from the work that had been keeping them IN the hourglass? As you listen, consider your vision for your future and the future of your company, and what work is most appropriate for someone who has gotten themselves out of the hourglass.

Today’s Episode features NCG Coach Colin Nolan discussing How to Win Friends and Influence People Using DISC. Hosted by Molly Nolan, the two team up to use their expertise to apply Dale Carnagie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People to DISC Assessments. Those who work with us know that understanding DISC is essential to building your team and ensuring that you have the right people in the right places at every level in your company.

Today, we continue our Levels of Work Series featuring NCG Coaches Andrew Amrhein and Kathryn Freeman. In our second episode of the season, Kathryn and Andrew discuss Level 2, and what Level 2 work looks like. As you listen, consider what tasks and work in your company should be considered level 2. Do you have the right people doing level 2 work in your company?

Be sure to go back and listen to the first episode of the Levels of Work Series if you have not already, to ensure you’re caught up.

Today, we’re bringing you the latest edition of Lessons in Leadership, featuring Brian & Kevin Nolan, on the theme of “Cleaning up the Monthly Mess”. As everyone in the contracting industry knows, business is messy, there are always new problems and weekly challenges! How are you working through them?

On this episode, Kevin shares with Brian some of the messes that he is currently dealing with at Nolan Painting. Everything from Covid related issues, OSHA, HR problems & much much more. Be sure to listen as Brian shares some tactical advice and they walk through the mindset of dealing with the onset of challenges.

On today’s episode, Molly and Colin Nolan team up to discuss Hiring a New Sales Rep. We know that hiring the right person can seem difficult, but that should never stop you from doing your best to pursue the right people. This is the time of year where many of you are looking to hire new Sales Reps in anticipation for upcoming busy season.

Colin will walk you through the types of behaviors and profiles that make a great sales rep, as well as some proven strategies to implement during the hiring process to ensure you end up with the right person

Today we are kicking off our Levels of Work Series, hosted by Molly Nolan; featuring Andrew Amrhein and Kathryn Freeman. In this series, we’ll discuss different levels of work and understanding the concept of timespan for each employee.

This episode starts things off at the beginning - an introduction to the concept & Level 1. As you’re listening, start to think about which roles in your company belong in the Level 1 category, and if the right people are in those roles.

This episode features NCG’s Sales Guys, Andrew Amrhein and Jim Falk. They team up to discuss the outline for an Annual Sales Business Plan. Do your estimators have an Annual Business plan? Are they preparing for 2021 with goals and do they understand what they need to do each day to achieve those goals? All of this and more from Andrew and Jim.

Today's episode of Out of the Hourglass features highlights from our recent CPP Planning Webinar. You'll hear from NCG Coaches Brian Nolan, Kathryn Freeman and Andrew Amrhein who will go into detail about your vision for 2021, how to manage your team moving forward, and preparing yourself financially today, for what lies ahead in the coming year.

Today’s episode features a discussion with Molly Nolan and Senior NCG Coach & Director of Operations Kathryn Freeman on creating or refreshing an Employee Handbook. Consider asking yourself: When was the last time you revised your employee handbook? Is everyone in your company aware of what it entails? Listen now for some key points on why it's important and how to go about an efficient refresh process.

Today’s episode features some highlights from our recent Sales Management Webinar featuring Brian Nolan and Mark Repkin. Leading the discussion is a conversation around "Sales Covenants", an idea from the Summit Sales Peer Groups that includes 15 creative behaviors, attributes, and commitments that create a successful Sales Manager and Leader.

This week on Out of The Hourglass, we decided to give a look into what our team listens to in our free time. Whether we're in the car, out on a run, or even getting some work done, we're always looking for new content to absorb and share with Summit Members.

Over the years, we have recommended many new books to Summit Members, and many Summit Members have recommended books to us. So why stop there? Now we're looking to different platforms such as podcasts, audiobooks and more to innovate and collaborate, personally & professionally.

This week's episode is a bit more unique. A few weeks back, the NCG Team hopped on a full-team Zoom call to discuss First, Break All the Rules by Marcus Buckingham & Curt Coffman. This book discusses how managers can get the most out of each of their employees by assigning them to the correct role and playing to their strengths.

At NCG, we're always striving to keep ourselves sharp with new information and bouncing ideas off of one another. Holding regular Book Club meetings such as this one give us a great opportunity to continue expanding our knowledge, discussing it in theory, and then directly applying it to how we serve our clients.

This episode is the final installment in our SL2 Experience Series, finally discussing the highly sought after D4 and S4 level. Colin and Molly team up to talk about how to tell that someone has reached D4 in a particular area, how to keep them there, and effective ways of restoring their D4 status if they happen to drop back into D3. As always, we recommend that you scroll back and listen to our previous episodes in the series to catch up if you have not already.

Today’s episode features The Sales Guys, Andrew Amrhein and Jim Falk. They have a discussion on a number of topics including what the upcoming Winter looks like from a Sales Perspective, how to implement Identity-Role Theory into your thought process, and the importance of preparation before each and every prospect meeting.

Today’s episode features our third installment of Lessons in Leadership. NCG Managing Partner Brian Nolan is joined by NCG Partner and Nolan Painting President & CEO, Kevin Nolan. This conversation is all about preparing to lead and navigate through uncertain times. Our first Covid Winter is steadily approaching and Brian and Kevin are here to help you wrap your head around the future, plan accordingly, and come out stronger on the other side.

Today’s episode is a discussion around Budgeting. Senior NCG Coach Andrew Amrhein joins Molly Nolan to discuss taking the necessary steps to having your 2021 budget ready with time to spare.

Additionally, a conversation on employee development. How can you have an understanding of where your company will be by creating a vision for your employees to buy into?

All of this and more to make sure you are prepared for 2021 both financially and strategically.

Today’s episode features 2 esteemed NCG Coaches; Kathryn Freeman and Jerry Block. Jerry joins Kathryn to bring his expertise and years of experience to the table regarding Behaviors & Accountability of Business Development.

This is all about relationship building; whether you have someone in your company devoted to Business Development OR you view it as a group effort amongst members of the Sales team and beyond.

Continuing our SL2 Experience Series featuring NCG Coach Colin Nolan, and hosted by Molly Nolan

This time, they’re covering the D3 Learner and S3 Leader. What traits are common to someone in D3 in a particular area? What are some of the risks of someone sticking around too long in D3?

All of this and much more. Don’t forget to stick around for the end where Colin puts Molly’s knowledge to the test with a short quiz for you to play along with!

Long time Summit Member, Meg Cook, President of Painters USA in Chicago. Meg joins NCG Coach Colin Nolan to discuss becoming WBENC Certified. For those not familiar, WBENC stands for the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, the largest certifier of women-owned businesses in the U.S. and a leading advocate for women business owners and entrepreneurs.

If you’re looking to get your business WBENC Certified or interested in learning more about the Council, Meg shares her experience and will likely answer some your top questions during this episode! Thanks to Meg Cook for sharing!

Featuring NCG Coach and Financial Expert Andrew Amrhein, discussion topics include how to budget during an uncertain time, When to start discussing your 2021 Budget, how to approach meetings about the budget, who to include, and much more

The latest installment of our SLII Experience™ Series. NCG Coach Colin Nolan and Molly Nolan are teaming up again to discuss Situational Leadership, this time talking about D2 and S2. Do you know how to spot where an employee may be a D2 in your company? What are some of the ways you can manage a D2 properly? All of this and much more on this episode of Out of The Hourglass!

Our resident Field Expert, Conal Mulreany joins NCG Coach Kathryn Freeman, Conal discusses what safety protocols and general operations Nolan Painting is implementing this Fall. Staying on top of your field operations is essential to keep your business running smoothly, especially as complications like Covid-19 mean more attention and effort on keeping your employees and customers aligned.

Molly Nolan has a virtual sit-down with Micheal Murray, Owner of Textbook Painting in Cleveland, Ohio and contributing Summit Member. Molly and Michael discuss the importance of leveraging your "Google Real Estate" to improve your SEO presence and how to be proactive in your strategy.

In addition to running his own business and involvement within the Summit Group, Michael has recently joined the NCG Team as a Peer Content Coach to assist Summit Members with Marketing. Whether just scratching the surface, or looking to take things to the next level, Michael can help with an assessment of your current marketing activity and strategic plan. If you're interested in how Michael can help you and your team, please don't hesitate to reach out to your coach.

This episode features two very special guests. NCG’s Managing Partner, Brian Nolan, as well as NCG Partner and Nolan Painting President, Kevin Nolan for another discussion on Lessons in Leadership. They'll share what they’ve implemented themselves over the Summer, as well as what they’ve learned from business owners around the country during this time.

Additionally, we know the Winter months are coming. How are you preparing your cash reserves for the upcoming Covid winter and the uncertainty that it will bring? Brian and Kevin take a dive on this to help you envision your business for the rest of 2020 and into 2021.

NCG Coach Colin Nolan discusses the different development and support levels as a part of the Leadership Model. Hosted by Molly Nolan, We’ll cover what it means to be a D1 and the right support needed for continued success as well as the different characteristics and misconceptions that are attributed to D1’s.

Don’t forget to stick around for the end where Colin puts Molly’s knowledge to the test with a pop quiz for you to play along with.

Recently, The Sales Guys, Andrew Amrhein & Jim Falk held a Virtual Advanced Sales Boot Camp. This week, they sit down and discuss some of the key points that were hit on over the course of the 3-Day Training. Topics on this episode include Identity-Role Theory, Parent-Adult-Child Model, The Closing Funnel & much more! Take a listen today and don't forget to share with your Sales Teams!

NCG Coach Kathryn Freeman sits down with our Business Consultant Analyst, Deidre Ellis,to talk about how to capture all of the details that must be in place to ensure your systems are running smoothly. They will discuss how to use a Process Documentation to identify accountability opportunities in both internal and external projects as well as considering the use of tools to track details and transitions. All of this and more on the Process Documentation podcast!

NCG Managing Partner, Brian Nolan, is joined by Nolan Painting CFO, Steve Nafranowicz. They discuss Steve's evolution as CFO, how a CFO should communicate with the field, Pay for Performance, how Nolan Painting is planning financially for the Winter and much more! This is a great listen for anyone looking for guidance into what the CFO role should look like, or could look like in their business.

This episode focuses on S.M.A.R.T. goals and how to implement them in your approach to not only your company as a whole, but the development of each individual employee. NCG Coach Colin Nolan answers your questions. What do S.M.A.R.T. goals stand for? How do I know if I'm setting S.M.A.R.T. goals for my team? Listen now to find out!

Situational Leadership Theory, or the Situational Leadership Model, is a model created by Paul Hersey and Ken Blanchard

The Sales Guys, NCG Coach Andrew Amrhein and Jim Falk sit down to discuss Steven Pressfield's War of Art - applying the book's concepts real-life scenarios they've put in practice to boost their sales game. Every Salesperson faces resistance regularly, what separates the highest performers is how they're able to learn and adapt from each experience.

NCG Coach Colin Nolan with a discussion on Individual Development Plans, also known as IDPs. Now is the time where your employees need your attention more than ever, listen for more information about how you can help your employees perform to their full capability!

A conversation with Nolan Painting Field Supervisor Conal Mulreany with an update on new challenges and field operations in the current environment. We last talked to Conal back in early May when work was just about to resume. Now, after some time has passed, Conal fills us in on the new status quo- including the hiring plan, training and customer interactions.

A conversation with NCG Coach Colin Nolan around Situational Leadership II, commonly referred to as SL2. This is a leadership model created by Paul Hersey and Ken Blanchard, developed while working on Management of Organizational Behaviors. For those not familiar with SL2, this episode is a great way to become familiar with the language and foundational knowledge needed to implement it into the way you view and develop leaders and employees alike in your company.

Kathryn and Colleen discuss the difficulty of managing HR in the various stages of COVID-19 and how Colleen is making sure that Nolan Painting stays on top of the HR game in the midst of a Pandemic. They touch on a number of topics from safety to culture and much more!

The Sales Guys, Andrew Amrhein & Jim Falk have a conversation on how the Nolan Painting Sales Team is continuing to adapt since their return to work! Jim & Andrew discuss new challenges faced, how they are establishing bond and rapport with customers, and their plans for what the Sales Team outlook might be for the remainder of 2020! Enjoy!

Brian and Kevin Nolan join Molly to discuss their journey as leaders through COVID-19 and how their past experiences as leaders helped prepare them for this crisis. Additionally, what they've learned about themselves and their teams throughout this time.

Jim Hughes joins us to discuss how his team is adapting to the new sales environment and which virtual platforms he has found most successful so far

The Sales Guys discuss how Nolan Painting is handling their approach to putting the team back to work, and what expectations are being made for the rest of the year

Jeff Wraley, CEO of BestQuote App, joins to talk about his app, BestQuote. BestQuote is designed to make virtual estimating for contractors easier than ever. Also joining are two satisfied Summit Members who use BestQuote for virtual estimating regularly, Luke Reynolds and Jennifer Gonzalez.

Conal Mulreany and Molly Nolan meet to discuss what returning to work looks like during COVID-19 and how Nolan Painting is managing to get work done while in compliance with CDC guidelines.

Conal Mulreany joins us to discuss the proper way to give your employees feedback. Knowing how to give praise and critique employees is a key catalyst in maintaining great culture in your business.

The Sales Guys are back! This time, talking about what motivates people to seek you out, and what they may remember from past experiences that can help you earn their trust.

Brian Nolan, NCG's Managing Partner, joins us to discuss how to Finish Strong in your company. There are a number of different exit strategies you can take from your business, the most important thing is to find the right one for you, and know what is next.

NCG Coach Kathryn Freeman joins us to discuss The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle, a book recognized by Bloomberg and Library Journal for thoughtful insight into where great culture comes from, and how it is sustained.

The Sales Guys are with us to talk about how they approach potential customers, and what techniques they have found to be successful in conversation

NCG Coach Colin Nolan joins to discuss the New York Times bestselling book, Crucial Conversations, and how you can approach them in your workplace

Kevin Nolan, CEO of Nolan Painting, joins us to discuss S.M.A.R.T. Goals and how he approaches setting goals for himself and his team.