『Built to Last』のカバーアート

Built to Last

Built to Last

著者： Levi Lawrence and Colby Jardine
無料で聴く

Candid conversations with entrepreneurs on life and business.

Join us as we uncover the habits, mindsets, and strategies that help organizations and people thrive for the long haul.



© 2026 Built to Last マネジメント・リーダーシップ リーダーシップ 経済学
エピソード
  • The Hard Truths of Growing a Family Business - Nick MacGregor

    The Hard Truths of Growing a Family Business - Nick MacGregor
    2026/06/04

    In this episode of Built to Last, Colby and Levi sit down with Nick MacGregor, General Manager of McGregor’s Industrial Group.

    Nick shares a grounded look at what it takes to lead a traditional, hands-on business through growth, succession, technology adoption, and changing market realities.

    https://www.ironhousepro.com

    00:00 – Introduction
    • Levi and Colby introduce the episode and how they connected with Nick.

    02:03 – Meet Nick MacGregor
    • Nick introduces himself and McGregor’s Industrial Group.

    03:18 – Growing Up in the Family Business
    • Nick shares early memories of sweeping floors and helping around the shop.

    06:40 – Transitioning Leadership Across Generations
    • Nick talks about his father’s semi-retirement and the human side of succession.

    12:22 – What Changes in the Top Seat
    • Nick reflects on the surprises of becoming general manager.

    14:19 – What McGregor’s Industrial Group Does
    • Nick explains the company’s four main business units.

    16:31 – Bringing Technology Into a Traditional Business
    • The group discusses how digital change started inside the company.

    21:56 – Building Custom Software and Learning the Hard Way
    • Nick shares the story of trying to build an operations management system.

    24:58 – Why ERP Projects Are So Difficult
    • Nick explains why larger software implementations require serious time, money, and support.

    28:25 – Payroll, CRM, and Other Technology Lessons
    • Nick shares more examples of software challenges and lessons learned.

    30:39 – Why Iteration Matters
    • Nick explains why tools rarely work perfectly on day one.

    32:51 – Training and Leadership Development
    • Nick talks about courses, industry associations, and learning in smaller chunks.

    35:25 – Building Culture Across Four Generations
    • Nick discusses culture, visibility, and staying connected to employees.

    37:20 – Making Hard Strategic Decisions
    • Nick shares the decision to exit a major market that no longer made sense.

    41:35 – Opportunities in the Maritimes
    • Nick explains why he is optimistic about regional industrial growth.

    43:59 – Staying Hands-On With Customers
    • Nick talks about the “get it done” attitude and helping customers directly.

    48:30 – Getting Stronger Before Growing Again
    • Nick explains the choice to strengthen the foundation of the business.

    50:52 – Letting People Fail and Learn
    • Nick shares why mistakes are part of skill development.

    52:31 – Hiring and Retaining Skilled Trades
    • Nick talks about apprenticeship pathways, retention, and the labour market.

    55:44 – Advice for Emerging Leaders
    • Nick shares the value of hard work, ownership, and passion.

    58:41 – Family, Work, and Raising Kids
    • Nick talks about family life, support, and the realities of balancing responsibilities.

    1:04:06 – AI Adoption and Automation
    • Nick shares how his view on AI has changed and where automation may help.

    1:07:45 – Finding Better Ways to Work
    • Nick reflects on manual labour, burnout, and rethinking old processes.

    #BuiltToLastPodcast #FamilyBusiness #BusinessLeadership #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusinessGrowth #DigitalAdoption #SkilledTrades
    続きを読む 一部表示
    1 時間 10 分
  • The Relationship-First Approach to Building Businesses - With Gord Erickson

    The Relationship-First Approach to Building Businesses - With Gord Erickson
    2026/05/21
    Gord Erickson joins the podcast to share the story behind building multiple businesses across hospitality, real estate, entertainment, tourism, tequila, and more — all while staying deeply focused on people, community, and culture.The conversation dives into partnerships, leadership, Disney-inspired hospitality principles, entrepreneurial risk, business failures, scaling teams, and what Gord has learned after decades of building and rebuilding businesses. From buying a struggling bar in his twenties to running a hotel in Mexico and launching a tequila brand, this episode is full of honest insights for entrepreneurs and business leaders trying to build something meaningful.Connect With Gord: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gord-erickson-89a25ba4/Connect With Colby: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colby-jardine/Connect With Levi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/levilawrence/https://www.ironhousepro.com/ 00:00 – Introduction• Levi introduces Gord Erickson and the unexpected connection that led to the conversation.00:59 – Gord Erickson’s Background• Gord shares his entrepreneurial journey and how business started early in life.02:13 – Managing 30 Companies• Gord explains the scale of his businesses and how partnerships evolved over time.03:50 – From Bartending to Starting a Band• How a chance meeting led to a decades-long music career.07:40 – Buying His First Bar• Gord shares how he unexpectedly entered the hospitality business.08:40 – The Liquor Store Opportunity• A regulatory change creates a major business opportunity.11:01 – Hospitality, Leadership & People• Why Gord believes connecting people is his real strength.12:25 – Why Passion Alone Isn’t Enough• The dangers of ignoring business fundamentals.14:09 – Building Businesses Through Partnerships• Gord explains how strategic partnerships helped him scale.17:07 – Becoming a Landlord & Developer• A financing conversation unexpectedly changed Gord’s business trajectory.22:21 – Building an Internal Team• How Gord evolved from a small office setup into a larger operational structure.25:38 – Meeting Tim & Operational Growth• Gord explains why bringing in operations leadership changed everything.31:27 – Discovering the Disney Philosophy• The Disney book and training program that reshaped the company culture.35:19 – Lessons from Disney Training• Hospitality, intentional experiences, and building memorable customer interactions.39:07 – Creating a Training Culture• How internal leadership training became part of the company DNA.41:20 – Recognition, Team Culture & Hospitality• Why employee recognition matters more than most businesses realize.43:07 – The Meaning Behind “Sueño”• The story behind the company’s rebrand and focus on dreaming bigger.46:43 – Hospitality Principles Beyond Restaurants• Applying hospitality thinking to every type of business.50:21 – Why Business Is About People First• Gord shares his core philosophy on leadership and entrepreneurship.53:07 – Opening the Books to Team Leaders• Transparency, accountability, and teaching financial literacy inside the business.54:20 – Work-Life Balance & Entrepreneurship• The realities of long hours, sacrifice, and eventually building support systems.56:55 – Buying a Hotel in Mexico• Gord shares the story behind purchasing and renovating a hotel in Mexico.59:20 – Navigating Business Challenges in Mexico• Corruption, permits, culture differences, and learning hard lessons abroad.1:03:56 – Opening a Hotel During COVID• Gord reflects on launching the hotel just as the world shut down.1:05:21 – Running Hospitality on the Ground Level Again• Returning to hands-on operations and rediscovering respect for hospitality teams.1:06:08 – Selling the Hotel• Gord opens up about the emotional process of exiting a dream project.1:11:01 – The Tequila Business & Agave Farming• How a farming opportunity evolved into a tequila brand.1:13:11 – Different Types of Entrepreneurs• Gord explains the different “boxes” entrepreneurs operate within.1:17:58 – The Future of Sueño• What’s next after selling the hotel and stepping back from operations.1:21:13 – Building Brands Through Storytelling• Why story, authenticity, and people matter more than products alone.1:27:48 – Entrepreneurship, Community & Momentum• The impact of surrounding yourself with aligned people.1:44:20 – Advice for Entrepreneurs• Gord shares lessons on action, systems, and learning through experience.1:49:16 – Final Thoughts on Leadership & Community• Why people and relationships remain at the center of everything.#Entrepreneurship #BusinessLeadership #Hospitality #SmallBusiness #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #EntrepreneurLife #BuiltToLastPodcast
    続きを読む 一部表示
    1 時間 51 分
  • Ownership vs Entrepreneurship: What Actually Builds a Business – Martin Balcome

    Ownership vs Entrepreneurship: What Actually Builds a Business – Martin Balcome
    2026/05/07

    In this episode of Built to Last, Colby and Levi sit down with Martin Balcome for a thoughtful conversation on entrepreneurship, leadership, personal growth, and the work it takes to build a life that feels intentional.

    Martin shares his path from growing up in a family business to becoming a multi-company operator, and reflects on the difference between being a strong operator and truly becoming an entrepreneur. The conversation explores coaching, mindset, fitness, leadership, firmware from childhood, and why learning to think clearly may be one of the most valuable skills a business owner can build.


    Links & Resources:

    Connect with Martin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-balcome/

    Bridgewater Talent Integration: https://bridgewaterti.com/


    Books Mentioned

    • Swimming with the Sharks
    • Good to Great
    • Great by Choice
    • Who Not How
    • 10x Is Easier Than 2x
    • The Gap and the Gain
    • Double Double
    • The Goal

    TIMESTAMPS:

    0:13 Introduction

    2:41 Meet Martin Balcome

    5:05 How Martin Learned Outside of School

    8:06 The Ivey QuantumShift Program

    9:23 Early Influences and Mindset from School

    10:35 Learning to Change Leadership Style

    13:08 When He Started Seeing Himself as an Entrepreneur

    16:23 The Difference Between Operator and Entrepreneur

    17:43 Building a Life Beyond Business

    20:49 Personal Standards and Performance

    21:44 Making Time for Family and Community

    23:26 Taking Breaks and Avoiding Burnout

    25:01 Wanting to Experience More Than Just Work

    26:21 Growth Through EO (Entrepreneurs’ Organization)

    28:09 Thinking Long-Term in Business and Life

    29:08 Ego, Leadership, and Letting Go

    30:19 Why Coaching Became Important

    31:23 How He Found His First Coach

    34:43 Navigating Major Business Setbacks

    36:13 Investing in Personal Health and Discipline

    38:03 What Good Coaching Actually Looks Like

    38:35 The Impact of Short Attention Spans

    40:26 Creating Space to Think Clearly

    41:48 Meditation and Self-Awareness

    43:37 Learning to Think More Critically

    44:33 Why Preparation Makes Decisions Faster

    47:22 Thinking Out Loud vs Slowing Down

    49:08 The Reality of Hard Work in Business

    50:46 Why He Sought New Environments to Grow

    52:43 What He’s Focused on Right Now

    53:23 Learning and Applying AI in Business

    54:31 Buying and Growing a New Company (Bridgewater TI)

    57:06 Generating Leads and Closing Long Sales Cycles

    1:00:13 Ownership vs Entrepreneurship

    1:01:08 Deciding Where to Invest Time and Money

    1:02:36 Taking Action Before You Feel Ready

    1:03:37 Books and Learning That Stick

    1:08:54 Why Long-Form Reading Matters

    1:10:49 Using AI as a Thinking Tool

    1:13:20 Challenges of Adopting AI Across a Team

    1:18:06 Why Change Takes Longer Than Expected

    1:19:32 Different Types of Business Builders

    1:22:09 What He’s Most Proud Of

    1:23:46 Building a Home with Intentional Design

    1:26:30 What’s Next

    1:28:36 Community, Impact, and Perspective

    1:30:55 Managing Stress and Mental Load

    1:33:16 Focusing on What Actually Matters

    1:37:38 Enjoying the Work

    1:39:36 Long-Term Effort Behind Success

    1:40:34 Closing Thoughts
    続きを読む 一部表示
    1 時間 42 分
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
まだレビューはありません