TSL #011: From the Barn to the Boardroom: How My Dad’s Passion for Fixing Things Transformed My Business

Growing up on a 10-acre property just outside Minneapolis was nothing short of magical. We had a barn that was practically the length of a football field away from our house.

My Dad's Sanctuary

My dad loved that barn—it was his sanctuary, his working studio. He was always in there, woodworking or fixing something, especially with me and my sister as teenage drivers.

A Lesson Learned

One day, I found him working on our old 1972 Ford Galaxie. The car was running fine, but he was focused on a mysterious whistling sound when the engine idled. When I asked why he was worried about it, he said, "You have to be listening for it to hear it."

That simple statement stuck with me.

The Importance of SOPs

When we started expanding Ultimate Hoops, I didn’t give our Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) the attention they deserved. Our expansion leagues were inconsistent, and new employees lacked the playbook to make Ultimate Hoops special.

My dad's words echoed in my mind—our SOPs didn’t tell them what to listen for.

Refining the Playbook

We paused our expansion and crafted a detailed, passionate SOP. It grew from 15 to 50 pages, documenting every detail of delivering the Ultimate Hoops experience.

Once we implemented the new SOPs, Ultimate Hoops took off.

Listening Like My Dad

I began reviewing our SOPs monthly, visiting markets with the same attentiveness my dad had in his barn. I listened, observed, and engaged with customers and employees.

We made SOP updates immediately, treating them like software updates.

The Takeaway

You need to take this approach with your business. Get under the hood, fix every whistle, and perfect your customer experience. It’s not just about making money; it’s about creating a lasting impression. Listen carefully and make your business soar.