Ivan Katz has been in the service business since he was 10 years old.

Paper routes. Food service. And then at 23, a landscaping company he would grow for the next 37 years.

But somewhere between nearly tripling his revenue and building a team that could finally run without him, Ivan hit a wall. He'd spent two decades being the top sales guy and visionary, but when he finally started stepping back, he didn't feel free.

He felt lost.

In our episode, we covered:

→ Why visionaries make dangerous integrators, and what happens when they finally admit it

→ How Great Lakes grew 3x and what broke in the process

→ The "CFI" (Crazy F*cking Idea) incubator model Ivan uses to vet new ventures

→ What it means to lead a culture where field workers and MBAs learn from each other

→ How to step back from sales without losing your sense of purpose

Ivan, thank you for being so open with your story! I’ve seen how you've really taken to heart that the hardest part of building something great is letting other people take it forward.

*Chapters*

0:00 - Introduction & Teaser Highlights

0:37 - Meet Ivan Katz and Great Lakes Landscape Design

1:03 - When Did You Realize You Were a Visionary?

2:30 - The Role of the Visionary: Spirit of the Company

4:06 - Managing Your Energy and Finding Outlets

7:14 - What Makes Great Lakes Different from the Competition

10:31 - Why You Should Call the Landscaper First

14:16 - Growing 3x and What Broke Along the Way

18:20 - The Flaming Visionary Problem: Moving Too Fast

19:17 - The CFI Incubator and New Revenue Streams

29:39 - Who Is the Ideal Great Lakes Client?

32:15 - Lessons Learned as a Visionary

38:29 - Personal Turning Point: Embezzlement and 300 lbs

39:14 - Bob's "I Matter" Work and Coaching Visionaries

40:29 - Identity Crisis: What Happens When They Don't Need You

45:52 - What Does Viva the Visionary Mean to You?

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