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I have talked to a very special guest: Brad Hollister. He is the CEO of Swan Leap, which is currently the number one growing company in the United States.

I asked him what he believes are some of the key factors of his company’s growth. If there were two or three pillars that were responsible for that growth, what would they be?

Brad answered that the biggest thing that they've done, as far as competitors in their space omit to do, is listening to the customers about what exactly they need. He said that he had his ear to the ground about what the company is, the product division, what problems they are solving, and wherever they can position against the competitors.

For him, that's a big piece because they're able to understand better the mindset of the customers. He also thought that one of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make is they design a product or a solution or a service that they think is brilliant.

And it might be, but it doesn't matter what you think as the entrepreneur. All that matters are what the market determines.

I prompted another question: “Now that you are producing outstanding results for people, what degree it might be hard to tell about new business? do you think you're acquiring as a function of producing outstanding results for your current and previous people?”

Brad responded that it’s like they're building this growing snowball of positivity and happiness. But he said that there's still been some bumps and bruises along the way.

Sometimes, when there's turnover within their clients, it can be challenging for them because they don't always come at it with the same approach. He said that here's this interesting change of guard happening right now in business where there is a certain type of professional group that is looking at their vendors as opportunities and partners to collaborate.

Brad noted that he loves collaborating with competitors, too. But then, there's that old school mentality of ‘beat up the vendor’.

He thinks that it’s another important acknowledgment. But it's not somebody that fits their culture and their ability to do business.

They had a relationship with a certain business but in the long run, didn't become sustainable for them any longer. He said that as much as they don't want to lose a customer, they can't jeopardize their employees in their vision there.

Brad also discussed that one of the biggest mistakes people are making out there is: yes, your focus was the data; but what are you going to do with it? For him, it doesn't make sense to have AI machine learning big data if you can't change your behavior as a result of it.

He added that we should talk about, first of all, the flexibility to rapidly change strategy like mid-day, as opposed to tracking a truck to find out it's late, but you're not going to do anything differently because of it.

Moreover, he told me that he read an article recently that talked about the year 2030, and some of the really big trends that are going to be happening during that time. One of them is global empowerment.

Because more and more people are going to have access to the internet, more people will be empowered. And therefore, more people will have opportunities to create businesses and income.

He said that for the first time in history, the middle-class will actually be larger than the poverty class. Brad does sound like a visionary, to me.

Brad mentioned that he’s building probably the coolest thing. He has this little sphere that he has in his phone of contacts of other CEOs that he can call when he has a problem or if he has a question or a challenge - personal or professional.

He clarified that it does not mean like over LinkedIn or cold calling, but being genuine, meeting someone and taking a true interest in their business. He noted that he has learned it is important to have networking, not for trying to get anything out of, but offering when you think you can help.

Brad summarized that if you are someone who's willing to help other people, then you create this community of connection where no one's in it for anything in particular, but you're all just there to help. For me, that is very beautiful and valuable.

If you are a visionary leader who wants to quantum leap your impact and leaves a legacy of achieving the impossible, I am here and the world is waiting. Email me at shannon@shannongraham.com

008 - Interview with Brad Hollister