Ep.171 I Deciding to Strengthen Your Family Business: Is it About Titles, or Talents? with David Kolbe
What happens when family dynamics intersect with business strategy?
David Kolbe, CEO of Kolbe Corp, shares the highs and hurdles of taking the reins in a family business. With roots in his grandfather’s Wonderlic Test and his mother’s Kolbe Index, David explains how understanding instincts and strengths has shaped his leadership, his family relationships, and the way he keeps fresh ideas flowing.
KEY TOPICS
- What happens when your boss is also your parent (or you’re the parent).
- The real impact of job titles and why your team might care more than you think.
- Knowing when to pass the torch as a business founder.
- How to balance creative freedom with practical strategy in a family business.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro: Defeating Bad Decision-Making in Life and Business
05:29 David Kolbe on Growing Up in a Family Business
07:51 Wonderlic Test: Its NFL Legacy and Origins
10:16 From Law to Leadership: Why David Joined Kolbe Corp
12:30 Working with Family: Lessons from the Trenches
14:54 Navigating Family Dynamics in Business Decisions
17:16 When Family Disagreements Rattle the Workplace
19:40 How Kolbe Corp Helps Leaders Leverage Strengths
22:04 When Quick Start Leaders Meet High Follow-Through Teams
24:26 Strategic Vision vs. Tactical Execution in Leadership
26:50 Why Most Businesses Aren’t Built for Innovation
29:08 The Key to Selling a Business Worth Buying
31:32 Structuring Teams for Growth Without Chaos
33:52 Letting Go: How Founders Transition Leadership
36:17 When the Visionary Isn’t the Business Owner
38:38 Avoiding Cultural Stagnation in Family Businesses
40:53 Building Innovation Departments That Last
43:16 When Tradition Holds a Business Back
45:37 Empowering Quick Start Talent Without Losing Control
47:59 Why Accurate Job Titles Matter for Teams
50:14 The Risk of Over-Titling Employees
52:39 Creating a Fun and Caring Workplace Culture
55:00 What “Mandatory Fun” Teaches About Leadership
57:17 David Kolbe’s Decision-Making Tip for Business Owners
59:10 Key Takeaways
1:01:00 Message from the Producer
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SANGER’S BOOK: A Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful Impact
SHAWN’S BOOK: Plateau Jumping: What to Change When Change Is What You Want
MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION?
At Decidedly Wealth Management, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy.
LEARN MORE: www.decidedlywealth.com
CONNECT WITH DAVID KOLBE
Website: https://www.kolbe.com/
Book “Do More More Naturally: Empowering Effortless Success and the Freedom to Be Yourself”: https://a.co/d/h8he2iG
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kolbecorp
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@poweredbyinstinct
Kolbe LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kolbe-corp/
David’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-kolbe-b352a99/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KolbeCorp
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KolbeCorp
As CEO of Kolbe Corp, David Kolbe is committed to helping people use their natural instincts to thrive. The Kolbe A™ Index helps people understand their instinctive strengths and how to use them to tackle challenges. David’s all about making our instincts work for us, not against us—turning what comes naturally into real-world results that drive success at home and in business.