
Hosted by Ty Haguewood · EN
Threaded Leadership is a long-form podcast for leaders carrying real responsibility.
Not motivation. Not performance. Not shortcuts.
Conversations on clarity under pressure, disciplined leadership, and what actually holds when the stakes are real.

Most manufacturing success stories focus on what went right.This episode focuses on what almost went wrong.Gabe Draper is the founder of Factur, a company helping manufacturers grow through sales, recruiting, and customer diversification.Before building Factur, Gabe experienced the realities many shop owners fear: cash flow struggles, customer concentration, overwhelming pressure, and ultimately losing the machine shop he helped build.In this conversation, Gabe shares the lessons he learned through failure, how ego impacts leadership, why diversification matters, and what he believes the future holds for manufacturing.We discuss:Why growth doesn't solve broken fundamentalsCash flow lessons every shop owner needs to hearThe dangers of customer concentrationHow failure shaped his leadershipBuilding an abundance mindsetWhy manufacturing's future is brighter than most people realizeIf you own, lead, or work inside a manufacturing company, this is a conversation worth hearing.Connect with Gabe:Website: FacturLinkedIn: Gabe DraperAbout Gabe DraperGabe Draper is the founder of Factur, a manufacturing growth company that helps machine shops and manufacturers generate qualified opportunities, diversify their customer base, recruit talent, and build more resilient businesses. Prior to Factur, Gabe owned and operated a machine shop, giving him firsthand experience with the challenges manufacturing leaders face every day.

Most machine shops don’t fail because of a lack of work.They fail because of leadership.In this episode of the Threaded Leadership Podcast, I sit down with Paul Van Metre—former machine shop owner, co-founder of ProShop ERP, and a leading voice in the industry through MakingChips.Paul has lived the full journey—from building and exiting a shop to helping hundreds of others bring structure, clarity, and discipline to their operations.But this conversation goes deeper than systems and strategy.We break down the identity shifts required to grow as a leader, why so many shops get stuck between $500K and $2M, and how things like culture, gratitude, and mentorship directly impact performance inside a business.If you're a shop owner, leader, or someone on the floor who knows you're capable of more—this episode will challenge how you think about growth.🔑 What We Cover:The identity shift from machinist to ownerWhy most shops stay stuck in the $500K–$2M rangeThe role of people, systems, and technology in scalingHow gratitude shapes culture and performanceWhy isolation is one of the biggest threats to shop ownersWhat separates shops that grow from those that stall🔗 Connect with Paul Van MetreLinkedIn: Paul Van Metre | LinkedInWebsite / ProShop ERP: ERP System for Manufacturing | ProShop ERP Software SolutionMakingChips: MakingChips Podcast🔗 Connect with Ty Haguewood / Threaded LeadershipLinkedIn: Ty Haguewood | LinkedInYouTube: Threaded Leadership - YouTubeWebsite: Threaded Leadership🚀 Work With MeIf you're serious about scaling your shop and becoming the leader your business actually needs—join the Threaded Community: https://www.skool.com/threaded-leadership-4135/about

Most shops don’t have a systems problem.They don’t have a workload problem.They have a leadership problem.In this episode of the Threaded Leadership Podcast, I sit down with Mike Payne to break down what it actually takes to lead and scale a manufacturing business.Mike came into manufacturing from private equity and M&A, then stepped into ownership himself when he acquired Hill Manufacturing. That outside perspective shows up in how he thinks about leadership, systems, and growth.We get into:The mistake most owners make when trying to “work on the business”Why delegating too early can break your companyThe identity shifts required to go from operator to ownerWhat actually keeps shops stuck under $1M, $3M, and beyondHow poor hiring and promotions destroy cultureWhy the owner is almost always the bottleneckPractical ways to fix cash flow (including the 13-week model)How to think about hiring when you “can’t afford it”Real shop floor scenarios around leadership, accountability, and growthThis isn’t theory.This is what actually happens inside real shops.If you’re an owner, a leader, or someone trying to step up, this conversation will hit home.👉 If this resonates, this is exactly the kind of work we focus on inside the Threaded Leadership Accelerator.We start April 28. Limited seats available.Leadership Training Programs for Manufacturing | Threaded Leadership

Episode 003: Quiet DisciplineIn this episode of the Threaded Leadership Podcast, Ty Haguewood breaks down Pillar #3 of the Threaded Leadership Framework: Quiet Discipline—the idea that real change is built in silence, not in announcements.In a world where leaders often feel pressure to broadcast their goals and personal development, Ty argues the opposite: true discipline happens quietly. Announcing every change or goal can create unnecessary pressure, make growth performative, and amplify the pain of failure when setbacks inevitably occur. Instead, leaders should focus on the internal work—building habits, correcting behaviors, and growing privately until the results speak for themselves.Ty explains how silence strengthens motivation, keeps your growth rooted in genuine intention, and protects the confidence needed to keep going when the process gets messy.The episode also explores real-world scenarios from the shop floor and management, including:A machinist trying to fix chronic latenessA shop employee working to control their temper after scrapping partsA manager learning to listen better to their teamA leader managing stress without letting it damage moraleThrough these examples, Ty shows how quiet discipline allows leaders to improve without turning their growth into a public performance. When the work is done in silence, the results become undeniable—and respect follows naturally.If you're a machinist, supervisor, or shop leader trying to grow into someone worth following, this episode is a reminder that discipline doesn’t need an audience.Want help applying these principles in your shop or leadership journey?These are the exact types of real-world scenarios we work through inside the Threaded Leadership Accelerator Program, where emerging leaders in manufacturing learn how to handle pressure, conflict, accountability, and leadership growth on the shop floor.Learn more and apply here:Threaded Leadership

The conversation explores the importance of governing one's inner world and the impact it has on leadership. It delves into the differences between reactive and controlled leadership, the consequences of not governing one's inner world, and practical tools for achieving self-control as a leader.TakeawaysGoverning your inner worldSelf-control and leadershipChapters00:00 The Impact of Governing Your Inner World10:44 Practical Tools for Governing Your Inner World

The conversation explores the journey of discovering and falling in love with manufacturing, the significant pressure and challenges in manufacturing, personal growth and rebuilding in the manufacturing industry, leadership lessons learned from failure, and the framework for leadership development and self-improvement.TakeawaysDiscovering the love for manufacturingLearning from failure and pressure for leadership development.Chapters00:00 Discovering Manufacturing08:00 Leadership Lessons