When we think about being CEOs of our businesses, usually big names come to mind like Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos and immediately, we feel we are too far from them, therefore, far from being CEOs. However, let’s look at the textbook definition of CEO: the only difference between big corporate CEOs and us is that they report to a board of directors, are responsible for improving their share price, and probably make a bit more money.  

Visiting us today is a dear friend and colleague, fantastic CEO, and owner of Red Hawk Auto Center, Tom Grady. Tom started working at Ford Motor Company and a Nissan Motor Company and ran dealerships in New York and California. 

We had a wonderful conversation about what every company owner should know about becoming a CEO, stop managing their company and start leading their internal customers. Tom brilliantly took us through the four primary roles every independent CEO should embrace to grow their company. We talk about the right mindset to grow, strategise properly, internal customer training, developing culture and more. 

Tune in to episode 9 of Maximum Octane and learn everything you need to know to become an efficient CEO and help your company grow consistently. 

Some Questions I Ask:

• Could you give us a bit of your background and how you got where you are today? (2:50)
• When you talk about looking at the future, you’re protecting that, and you’re looking and saying, every action we do today and every way we treat our internal and external customers will affect our future. How do you maintain this mindset? (19:12)

In this episode, you will learn:

• There is a lot of confusion around what it means to be a CEO (3:46)
• As business owners, we need to be forward-thinking and change our mindset today (6:05)
• About the importance of developing a strategy (12:06)
• What is the right way to develop a culture (14:31)
• Barking orders versus generating internal customers’ autonomy (20:12)

Resources

• Connect with Tom on LinkedIn
• Red Hawk Auto Service website
• Connect with Red Hark Auto Service on Instagram
• Connect with Red Hawk Auto Service on Facebook