Mixing Family and Business Podcast

We are going to be take a little break so we can figure out how to reinvent the podcast. Keep an eye out for when we come back. 

Ever wondered if you truly have years of experience or if you’ve just lived the same year over and over again? In this episode of Mixing Family and Business, I dig into that question alongside Shirley, Tom, and Kim. We explore the real value of experience versus time, sharing stories from our own businesses about how lessons learned only come from actually doing the work. From catching huge mistak...

Ever wonder what it really takes to run multiple businesses while keeping your family life intact? In this episode, I’m joined by Kim, Tom, and Shirley as we get real about the pressures all business owners face, no matter their age or experience! We talk honestly about the stress points that have stayed the same over the decades, from “I have to do it all myself” to the challenge of understanding...

In this episode we to break down what really matters when running multiple businesses, and it’s not your title. We share memorable stories from our early years: facing tough banks, balancing time with our kids, and learning the hard way why being a good listener is a superpower. The conversation gets real about why teaching technical tasks is so much easier than helping someone grow strong people...

In this episode, I dive deep into the realities of running multiple businesses with my family. We share the lessons that caught us off guard, like discovering the importance of formal leadership after decades on the job, and the eye-opening impact of revamping our cash flow thanks to the "Profit First" approach. We talk about adapting to new roles, learning what real respect looks like across gene...

Ready to discover what really happens when you transition from running a family business to truly owning it? We dig into the moments no one talks about, the emotional shift, the struggles with cash flow, underestimating just how much your role (and your responsibilities) change, and what it’s like to realize you can’t go to the "old owners" for backup anymore. Whether you’re thinking about success...

Ready to discover what it really takes to run multiple businesses with your family? In this episode we share unfiltered stories about the true meaning of a "long day" in our family businesses, from sunrise starts and midnight finishes to juggling side hustles alongside our main operations. You'll hear how our routines evolved across generations and the key lessons we picked up along the way about...

Ready to take a look behind the curtain at what it really takes to mix family and business? In this episode we talk about unforgettable coworkers, the challenges and rewards of running multiple businesses, and how we prepared the next generation for leadership. We discuss the early days, lessons learned from mentors who shaped us, and why giving your family exposure to the business, without forcin...

Ever wondered what it really takes to make big decisions in family business, sometimes with zero information at all? In this week’s episode, I sit down with Kim, Shirley, and Tom to unpack our most memorable leap-of-faith moments, from choosing the site of our highest-volume Dairy Queen practically on a whim, to starting careers and buying motorhomes with little more than gut feeling and determina...

Ever wondered what it really takes to run multiple businesses with your family? In this episode, I sit down with Kim, Shirley, and Tom to get raw and honest about the disagreements we’ve had, the times we realized someone else was right, and all those “almost” moments, the partnerships and businesses we nearly started (but didn’t). From scrutinizing P&Ls to dodging disaster (like that Dairy Qu...

On this episode of Mixing Family and Business, I’m joined by Tom, Kim, and Shirley as we bring you right back to those unforgettable moments from the distinct stench of rotten potatoes to the surprisingly powerful nostalgia of an old grocery store. We kick things off with laughs and memories, but quickly dive deep into how those experiences shaped our approach to business and family alike. I open...

In this episode, we dive deep into what it really takes to run multiple businesses in a changing world. From the first skills that sparked their confidence, to memorable stories around ice cream scoops and grocery store routines, you’ll get the inside scoop (pun intended!) on how this family built, grew, and adapted their systems for success. You’ll hear us break down the cost of houses from the 6...

On this week’s episode of Mixing Family and Business Podcast we chat about the old-school business habits and tools we just can’t quit, stuff like paper notebooks, showing up on time, and honestly, cash registers still do the job! There’s something about jotting down a list with pen and paper that keeps my day on track, even with all the tech out there. You’ll hear some funny throwbacks and real t...

In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes from the jobs I dreaded in the early days to the moments that made it all worthwhile. Whether it’s cleaning bathrooms, facing shelves, or wrestling with pop nozzles, we all have our “I can’t wait to hand this off!” stories. But business isn’t just about hard work; it’s about building memories, too. I talk with Shirley, Kim, and Tom about the creati...

Ever wonder what it was really like to run a business back in the ’50s and ’60s and what’s actually changed (and stayed the same) today? In this week’s episode of Mixing Family and Business, I’m taking you behind the curtain with my amazing guests Tom, Shirley, and Shirley as we compare everything from unloading trucks by hand to customers actually enjoying a good visit in the checkout line. From...

In this episode I sit down with Shirley, Tom, and Kim to reminisce about the hands-on processes we used to do, from handwritten ledgers to managing schedules with pen and paper. Trust me, some of these will shock you! I’m sharing our real-world lessons in hiring, firing, and promoting and why putting the right person in the right seat (not just the most experienced one) changed everything for us....

Ready to crush the family business game? Hear how Shirley, Tim, Tom, and Kim share the real stories behind running multiple businesses across generations, from hayfields and grocery stores to fast-changing tech and POS systems. We dive into: • Childhood lessons that shaped powerhouse work ethics 💪 • The wild evolution of learning, from handwritten ledgers to instant YouTube tutorials 📚 • How to...

What can YOU learn from your team? Join me, as I sit down with Joe Moy, Kim, and Shirley to explore the real-life wisdom that employees of all ages bring to the workplace. We’re sharing stories of energy boosts, from morning routines to heavy metal, sunshine to quality time and talking about those surprising “aha” moments when younger team members introduced us to game-changing ideas like using ce...

Ever wondered what truly happens behind the scenes when you mix family and business? In this episode, I sit down with Shirley and Tom to share the real-life moments that have shaped our journey across multiple businesses. From heartwarming stories about customer kindness, like someone snapping a pre-internet photo of a decorated cake so special it had to be displayed in the store, to the surprisin...

In this episode of Mixing Family and Business, I sit down with Tom, Shirley, and Kim to dig into the real heart of what it takes to run multiple businesses as a family. We share the lessons we learned watching our parents work, whether it was growing up on the farm, keeping the grocery store afloat, or pitching in at Dairy Queen. Along the way, we talk about how those early days instilled a powerf...

Ever wonder if I really did walk uphill both ways to school? Or how my family managed to squeeze a dozen kids into a single car before anyone even thought about seatbelts? Join me, Brian Hahn, on this week’s episode of Mixing Family and Business, as we unwrap stories from our childhoods and the real-world advice that’s shaped our journey running multiple businesses together. Tune in as I swap memo...

Ever wish you could go back and give your younger self some straight-shooting business advice? We get brutally honest about what we’d do differently, from investing smarter to making sure we actually love the businesses we’re in. Hear firsthand why doing your research, working in the industry before going all-in, and writing a no-nonsense business plan changes everything. No more jumping in blind,...

Mixing family and business isn’t for the faint of heart but you don’t have to do it alone! Join us on this week’s episode of the Mixing Family and Business Podcast where you'll hear firsthand stories about the toughest business conversations we’ve ever had, from the heartbreak of closing stores to the breakthrough moments that unlocked new growth and why honest, proactive communication is at the c...

Ever wondered how your business could reshape your family forever? Join me on this episode of the Mixing Family and Business Podcast, as I sit down with Kim, Shirley, and Tom to unpack the real impact of building and running multiple businesses with your family alongside you. You’ll hear our honest stories—when the “ownership moment” really hit, how a cabin, boat, or even a move changed our perspe...

Are you thinking about taking your business from one location to many? You won’t want to miss this episode! This week on the Making Family and Business Podcast, I sit down with Kim, Shirley, and Tom to unpack the real ups and downs of what it’s like to scale a family business. We dive deep into the moments that seemed “crazy” at the time—from buying our first car wash to jumping into Dairy Queens...