In this episode of Never in Reverse, hosts Jeremy Axel and Doug Cox explore the real-world challenges and breakthroughs shaping today’s supply chains. From the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the ripple effects of global tariff wars, they share how businesses can stay agile and thrive through uncertainty.

They discuss the value of building diverse partnerships and why proactive risk management matters now more than ever. Jeremy and Doug also highlight how data, automation, and transparent vendor relationships, including on-site visits and due diligence, help companies build supply chains that are stronger and more adaptable.

Full of practical advice and honest insights, this episode shows how every disruption can become a chance to grow and innovate.

For detailed show notes, navigate using the timestamps below:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Overview of the episode’s focus: real-world supply chain crises, ignored red flags, and innovations turning bottlenecks into breakthrough

(00:01:14) Personal Experiences and COVID-19 Lessons

Hosts share personal stories from COVID-19, highlighting vulnerabilities like single-source dependencies and lack of diversification

(00:03:55) Impact of Tariff Wars and Ongoing Supply Chain Struggles

Discussion of recent tariff wars, ongoing supply chain pressures, and the importance of supplier diversification.

(00:06:43) Risks of Single-Source and Specialized Vendors

Exploring challenges with unique, patented, or single-source components and the pain of limited vendor options.

(00:09:10) Leveraging Data and Automation in Supply Chains

How historical data and automation can improve purchasing decisions, planning, and vendor communication.

(00:10:13) Proactive Vendor Communication and Planning

Emphasizing the need for proactive engagement with suppliers and learning from past disruptions.

(00:10:36) Vendor Relationships and the Importance of Diversification

The value of strong vendor relationships, diversification, and learning from chip shortages in automotive supply chains.

(00:12:34) Automating and Structuring Supply Chain Data

Benefits of automating data, creating unified systems, and supporting both urgent and planned customer needs.

(00:15:38) Understanding Vendor Vulnerabilities and Customer Impact

Encouraging open conversations with vendors about their constraints to better serve customers and avoid losing business.

(00:16:43) Site Visits and Vendor Validation

The importance of on-site vendor visits, looking beyond marketing, and validating capabilities before committing.

(00:19:24) Building Trust and Avoiding Marketing Traps

Why direct references and transparency matter more than flashy marketing or case studies in vendor selection.

(00:23:11) Final Takeaways: Diversification, Validation, and Seamless Partnerships

Key advice: diversity suppliers, validate vendors, automate data, and build seamless, trustworthy supply chain partnerships.

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In episode 37 of "Never in Reverse Podcast," hosts Jeremy Axel and Douglas Cox explore the challenges founders face with delegation. They discuss how holding on to control leads to burnout, bottlenecks, and stunted growth. Through personal stories and practical advice, they emphasize the importance of trusting the right team, setting clear processes, and allowing room for mistakes.

The hosts highlight that effective delegation is key to scaling a business, improving morale, and fostering innovation, urging leaders to let go, empower their teams, and focus on strategic growth rather than micromanagement.

For detailed show notes, navigate using the timestamps below:

(00:00:00) The Hidden Danger of Founder Control
Why companies fail due to founders’ need for control; delegation as survival, not surrender.

(00:01:55) Delegation as a Breaking Point
Jeremy shares a personal story about reaching a health crisis due to a lack of delegation.

(00:02:44) Building the Right Team & Guardrails
Importance of having the right people and setting clear brand guardrails for effective delegation.

(00:04:14) Letting Go of Insecurity and Control
Jeremy discusses insecurity as a root cause for not delegating and learning to trust team's abilities.

(00:05:50) Risks of Micromanagement and Bottlenecks
How micromanagement creates bottlenecks, stifles growth, and impacts organizational processes.

(00:07:32) Personal and Operational Costs of Control
Negative effects of excessive control on health, family, and business operations.

(00:09:44) Trust, Accountability, and Avoiding Micromanagement
Balancing trust and accountability; why micromanagement is unsustainable as a business scales.

(00:12:06) The Bottleneck of Approval & Process Design
How approval bottlenecks slow progress; need for clear processes to empower teams.

(00:13:05) Permission to Fail and Team Involvement
Allowing team members to fail and learn; importance of involving others in decision-making.

(00:14:38) Attention to Detail vs. Speed
Balancing speed and quality; risks of repeated mistakes due to lack of clarity or detail.

(00:15:40) Impact of Control on Team Morale
How lack of delegation drains team morale, trust, and process efficiency.

(00:16:33) Leadership Gaps and Departmental Friction
Problems caused by poor leadership at various levels have resulted in interdepartmental friction.

(00:18:06) Delegation and Elevation
Jeremy’s mantra: “Delegate and elevate”; need for transparency and clarity in delegation.

(00:18:52) Delegation Structure and Bandwidth
Creating non-paralyzing delegation structures; ensuring team members have the capacity for new tasks.

(00:19:58) Delegation Audit and Bottlenecks
Conducting delegation audits to identify bottlenecks and wasted time; real-world example of firing due to bottlenecking.

(00:22:04) Encouraging Fast Failure and Learning
Preferring quick action and learning from mistakes over slow, perfectionist approaches.

(00:22:18) Delegation’s Effect on Customer and Employee Experience
How poor delegation impacts morale, customer service, and business results.

(00:23:04) Letting Go and Trusting the Team
Encouragement to let go, trust the team, and reevaluate roles if delegation fails.

(00:24:20) Final Thoughts: Stop Micromanaging
Summary advice: delegate, trust, fix systems, and avoid micromanagement for business and personal growth.

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In Episode 36 of "Never In Reverse Podcast," host Jeremy Axel and co-host Douglas Cox discuss how sales teams can adapt and succeed during economic downturns. They share strategies for maintaining deal flow, morale, and credibility, emphasizing the importance of honesty, vulnerability, and saying "no" to clients who are not a good fit.

The conversation highlights the importance of grit, adaptability, and prioritizing quality over quantity. Real-world stories and practical tips illustrate how aligning sales promises with company capabilities and building authentic relationships help sales professionals weather tough times and thrive in challenging markets.

For detailed show notes, navigate using the timestamps below:

(00:00:00) Introduction and Episode Overview

(00:01:05) Sales Vulnerability and Honesty

Emphasizing vulnerability, honesty, and saying "no" in sales to build trust and protect credibility.

(00:03:24) Aligning Sales Promises with Delivery

Discussing the importance of matching sales promises with operational capabilities and being transparent with customers.

(00:06:30) Personal Brand and Long-Term Relationships

How personal brand and reputation are shaped by honesty and long-term relationship building in sales.

(00:07:34) People Before Profit Philosophy

Advocating for prioritizing relationships over commissions for sustainable sales success.

(00:08:10) Building Deeper Customer Connections

The value of trust, problem-solving, and personal connection in modern sales environments.

(00:09:10) Standing Up to Unethical Sales Pressure

Stories about resisting leadership pressure to close bad deals and maintaining personal ethics.

(00:12:02) Pre-Qualifying Questions and Transparency

Using budget, timeline, and decision-maker questions to pre-qualify leads and ensure transparency.

(00:14:20) Wasted Time on Poor-Fit Leads

Statistics and anecdotes about the high percentage of time wasted on leads that don’t fit.

(00:15:52) Revenue-Generating Activities and Time Management

Advice on calculating your worth, focusing on revenue-generating activities, and aligning time with goals.

(00:20:20) Grit vs. Natural Talent in Sales

Comparing the value of grit and adaptability versus natural charisma in sales performance.

(00:23:35) Learning from Top Performers

Encouraging learning from successful peers, mentors, and always adding new skills to your sales toolkit.

(00:28:10) Continuous Improvement and Industry Learning

The importance of ongoing learning from others’ experiences and adapting through market changes.

(00:28:36) Recap and Final Advice

Summary of key points: honor your time, be diligent, adapt, and focus on relationships over transactions.

(00:29:21) Belief in Product and Career Alignment

Stressing the need to believe in what you sell and aligning your career with your values.

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