Lucky 13 - All Things People AND Profit

In this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, hosts Josh Hauser and Mike Lantz discuss the overlooked but crucial role of middle management in organizations. They explore common challenges faced by mid-level managers, such as lack of training, support, and feedback, and highlight the impact of leadership on employee well-being. Drawing on research and personal experiences, they emphasize the importance...

In this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser discuss the "ten blind spots of executive teams," focusing on leadership challenges that impact organizational effectiveness. They explore issues such as unclear vision, conflicting priorities, poor communication, and ego-driven decisions, offering practical advice and real-world examples. Referencing tools like EOS and book...

In this episode of The Lucky 13 Podcast, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser discuss Josh's recent Arizona trip and the frustrations of travel, using these experiences to highlight the importance of intentional daily reflection. They introduce practical leadership habits like setting three daily goals, journaling, and reviewing what went well or poorly. The hosts encourage listeners to adopt a 15-min...

In this podcast episode, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser discuss the vital role of company culture and employee engagement in business success, using Indiana University football's championship win as a metaphor. They explore how building a strong employer brand attracts top talent, boosts engagement, and drives discretionary effort. Backed by Gallup research, they highlight the measurable benefit...

In this Lucky 13 Podcast episode, Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser discuss the importance of "core focus" in business and personal development. They explore how a company's origin story shapes its purpose, passion, and niche, emphasizing the need to revisit and clarify these elements regularly. Through personal anecdotes and practical examples, they highlight how a clear core focus guides decision-makin...

In this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, hosts Josh Hauser and Mike Lantz share personal holiday traditions before diving into business insights. They discuss Parkinson's Law, emphasizing how work expands to fill available time, and warn against unnecessary hiring and bureaucratic growth. The conversation highlights the pitfalls of focusing on trivial issues, accumulating organizational "junk," an...

In this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser dive into people management, work-life alignment, and employee evaluation, using the holiday season as a backdrop. They discuss how aligning personal and professional lives brings clarity, then explore evaluating employees through "will sets" (motivation) and "skill sets" (ability). The conversation covers managing low performers,...

In this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser reconnect, sharing lighthearted banter about local food favorites before diving into a reflective business discussion. They emphasize the importance of honest year-end reviews, hiring the right people, and upholding core company values. The conversation explores balancing accountability and friendship, demanding excellence w...

In this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, hosts Josh Hauser and Mike Lantz explore the foundations of effective business leadership, using sports analogies from Indiana University athletics. They discuss building success through consistent effort, the importance of decisive commitment, and rapidly transforming organizational culture. The conversation highlights the need for clear vision, aligning t...

In this Lucky 13 Podcast episode, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser interview Jason Beutler, CEO of Robosource. Jason shares his journey from studying computer science and AI to founding Robosource, which helps small and mid-sized businesses integrate AI into daily operations. They discuss Robosource's Process Coach, a virtual AI assistant that streamlines tasks like sales proposals and sourcing, a...

In this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser explore how leadership and organizational clarity can be improved using the math concept of order of operations (PEMDAS). Through relatable analogies and real-world examples, they discuss the importance of clear rules, tools, and disciplines in business, effective communication, and hiring practices. The hosts share personal...

In this episode, Mike and Josh discuss Indiana University football's strong season and the excitement around the return of the bison mascot. The conversation then shifts to leadership, drawing on John Maxwell's "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership." They explore principles like servant leadership, the importance of connection, and the Law of Buy-In, sharing personal stories and practical advice....

In this episode, recorded on September 11th, Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser ("Chef Hauser") engage in an unscripted conversation about business leadership, personal growth, and mindset. Josh shares memorable analogies—like "left cheek, right cheek" and "what wood won't light"—to illustrate the importance of referrals, clarity, and focusing on high performers. The hosts discuss raising organizational s...

In this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser dive into the challenges of employee turnover in today's tight job market. They distinguish between natural and preventable turnover, discuss the impact of hiring practices and leadership, and offer practical strategies for reducing regrettable attrition. The conversation also highlights the value of peer coaching "trios" fo...

In this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser dive into practical strategies for business growth, leadership, and financial management. Drawing on books like "Who Not How?" and "The Science of Scaling," they discuss overcoming self-deception, maximizing team accountability, and setting clear, actionable goals. The hosts share insights from an EOS Quality Control session...

  In this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser blend humor and business insight, starting with stories about weddings clashing with college football games. They then dive into practical business finance, highlighting the importance of tracking five key financial metrics: revenue, COGS, gross profit, operating expenses, and net operating income. The hosts discuss strate...

In this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser explore how systems and repeatable processes drive business value, scalability, and profitability. Drawing on real-world examples—including stories from Defender Direct and insights from Brian Neal's Blind Zebra—they explain why well-designed systems outperform charisma or improvisation. The hosts share practical tools, like...

In this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser discuss organizational effectiveness, focusing on how companies can improve meetings by clarifying their purpose and aligning participants' mindsets. They highlight the importance of understanding different meeting types—brainstorming, decision-making, launch, and execution—and introduce the Six Working Geniuses framework. T...

In this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser explore conflict resolution and emotional intelligence in business and personal relationships. They discuss how the brain reacts to stress, introduce the "Hulk Principle," and use Chinese finger cuffs as a metaphor for resolving conflict by leaning in rather than resisting. Emphasizing connection, positive intent, and empath...

  In this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser explore business leadership, talent development, and succession planning. They share personal stories, including Josh's daughter's wedding and a symbolic compass gift, connecting leadership lessons to family life. The hosts outline a seven-step process for building strong leadership teams, covering future org charts, pivot...

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: align...

  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 highlig...

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 affi...

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 "prof...

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 sched...