Was talking with Miss this past week about BTL. We’re blessed with so many great clients. Lockton’s been with us since 2002. Watched them grow from less than 100mm and 600 associates to nearly 5billion and 14,000 associates. What a great team. Blessed to build beside them.
OSU sports was a happy accident we never saw coming. Started when Durp invited Grappy to come to a BTL team practice at his debt collection company par excellence. We’ve worked with grapplers, gymnasts, ballers, laxers, volleyball men/women, womens soccer, golfers, and Head coaches from nearly every sport this great university puts out there. Blessed.
Speaking of Durp, working with his team changed my mind. Never seen so many make the most of the gift their leader gave ’em. So many collectors BBTL. So many becoming friends. Will never forget them.
The Athlete brought me into his Real Estate firm when he worked for SREG. Knew instantly he was something special. He’s the only dude I’ve had to slow down when he tasted the opus trail. Brett Kaufman would go on to build a beautiful business and give the gift of BTL to every, single associate. When he started Kaufman it made no sense to run a start up this way. Perfect sense to he and me.
Today, I work with 21 leaders one on one and facilitate 10 team practices. They collectively represent my OPUS. All of them are special to me. Not looking for more and not saying I won’t take on the right client if they happen to come along.
My best work? That’s an easy one.
There are two Builders who are my apprentices. Jiggs (formerly known as Jiggles) and Rachel. These two are my absolute favorites, make no mistake about it. The volume of work is why. They both write me freakin’ books every week describing each client practice, their scorecard, and their learning from that week on their way to mastering this never ending craft of ours. They’ve become BTL as I could never have imagined. Gone from Jiggles (failure of nerve) to Jiggs (Made of Steel). Jiggs serves a client base nearly as big as mine. Will be bigger in the next few years. He knows the market he serves and does it with the BIGgest commitment to excellence. His problem is not caring too little. Sometimes he cares too much. He struggled mightily with belief. Fought many a doubt. Faced the mirror. Got busy on his sorriness. Life and work changed forever for the better. Our weekly practices never have enough time. He’s like a sponge soaking up every bit of learning he can. We are growing old but not tired together. Blessed.
Rachel. Oh my gosh, where to begin with this one. Prior to her insistence I was convinced LA, and Gu were the only Builders of Builders. Wasn’t my jam. Wanted others more systematic to do this most heavy of lifting. She was not having it. Wrote me a compelling argument for why she required me building into her. She, friends, is very persuasive. So back in the beginning of 2020, Rachel became my first apprentice. Assumed nothing. Started hard. Still am. She is one tough woman. Never have made her cry. Guaranteed she is tougher than you, reader. I’ve hit her so hard with truth on so many occasions. Her only response. More, please. She is BBTL and a master of this craft. She’s not arrived (none of us ever will) but she is well beyond any who have the privilege of being built by her. She write on the BTL blog every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Her writing is freakin’ magic. Very CCD. Actionable. Engaging. No fluff. No bullshit. Chew on it and get better. Her one on one and team practices are no different. She makes me smile every time we practice. Committed to doing the work as much today as she was five plus years ago.
So, my best work (at work) is being a Builder of Builders. These two are leading NGB (Next generation of Builders). They are ensuring this band carries on long after I am gone. My commitment is to pour into them with all I’ve got until this brain of mine gives out. If the good Lord sends me another soul on fire like these two crazies, I’d be foolish to say anything but yes. High bar. We. Shall. Wait. We. Shall. See.
12 8 4 powered by 2. This is the BTL framework for excellence. The 12 Essentials of Personal Excellence, The 8 Essentials of Leading Teams, and The 4 Essentials of Leading Leaders. You’ve not done your job, leader, until you’ve mastered The 4. I am far from it. I am committed to becoming a master Builder of Builders. If you’re a client of mine, you’re getting the benefit of the work these apprentices are making me do. Building great leaders is a tall order. Humbling. Scary. Awe inspiring. Joy filled. Challenging. So damn rewarding. Thanks, Jiggs and Rachel for the privilege. My name will never be on some building. BTL will never be a household brand. But, my legacy will live on with this band and these apprentices. Makes me smile thinking about how God has given me such an amazing gift to give away. Would not change a thing.
Remember, your legacy is not a building, a creation, or any THING. Your legacy is what you’ve been transmitting all along. What are you transmitting to the next generation, leader? Is your signal worth tuning into? What is your best work? Slow down. Reflect. Next week I’ll reflect on my best work NOT at work…
Live hard. Love harder…
BUILT TO LEAD 
Dang. Sure grateful you said yes. Thanks, Chet, for the belief and the building. Can’t wait for more. 🙂