How This CEO's Simple Mindset Shift Led to Massive Business Growth
Host Chaz Wolfe interviews Craig James, CEO of Barrie House Coffee & Tea Co. Craig shares his experience working for Exxon Mobile for over 20 years, living in Europe, and managing a business unit. He also talks about his transition to Barrie House Coffee & Tea Co, where he helped build a leadership team and board of directors, and focused on building the company's brand through storytelling. Craig emphasizes the importance of safety and settling the mind when stressed, and how genuinely caring about your team can make a huge difference. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Barrie House Coffee & Tea Co remained a family business and didn't lay off a single employee. Tune in now to learn from Craig’s decades of experience!During this episode, you will learn about;[01:52] Intro to Craig and his business[03:38] Craig’s Why[08:39] The perspective that a board of directors gives a business owner[10:33] Craig’s perspective on developing your leadership team[14:59] How to know where you should be focusing in your business[19:17] A good decision Craig made in his business[23:23] A bad decision Craig made in his business[26:20] How Craig was able to bring his business through COVID unscathed[29:03] Craig’s decision making process[32:48] Craig’s #1 KPI[34:37] Craig’s mindset about the human connection piece with his team [39:33] What’s Craig’s opinion on intentionally networking or masterminding with other business owners?[40:29] How Craig goes all in with business, marriage, and family[41:42] If Craig could speak to his younger self, what would he say?[43:08] How to connect with Craig[44:11] Info on the Gathering The Kings MastermindNotable Quotes"There are over 30 brands of coffee sitting on the shelf, so it matters. If you disappoint a customer, they may never come back to you." - Craig James"At some point in time, we are going to fail at something we do. The way we treat our employees and work with each other is crucial." - Craig James"I think to set yourself up for success, you need to be humble and understand your vulnerabilities. Additionally, you should share those vulnerabilities with your team and equip yourself with the right tools." - Craig James"The biggest part of communication is listening, not talking." - Craig James"Being present is incredibly important from a work standpoint." - Craig James"After this podcast, don't end without starting." - Chaz Wolfe (Host)"Even if you've been in business for a few years or 10, 20 years and you're crushing it, there's still another level to go to." - Chaz Wolfe (Host)"There's still room for improvement, and there's always something new to learn." - Chaz Wolfe (Host)Books and Resources Recommended:Cunningham, Keith J. Road Less Stupid: Advice from the Chairman of the Board. Cunningham LLC, 2018.https://www.amazon.com/Road-Less-Stupid-Advice-Chairman-ebook/dp/B077NXPL4LLet’s Connect!Craig James:Website: https://www.barriehousestore.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-m-james-29b618/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barriehousecoffee/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarrieHouseCoffee/Youtube: