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Hi there, everybody.
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I'm Craig Cann.
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Right now on this edition of Tracks to Success.
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Every business takes risks.
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Every leader makes bets.
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And sometimes the difference between moving forward and falling behind comes down to knowing which risks are worth taking.
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Peter Doyle has built a career around that very idea.
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For more than two decades at Gallagher, he's helped clients protect what they've built, navigate uncertainty, and make smarter business decisions.
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But along the way, his own career kept growing too, from leading students in Florida to taking on greater regional responsibility, to now leading Gallagher's U.S.
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retail property and actual food growth bridge operations as it's ego.
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You'll find out what it's learned about leadership, why relationships still win, and what it's like to sit at the center of one of the world's largest insurance and risk management organizations.
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This inspiring story of success is starting now.
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Welcome to DraftSource Success, the podcast that introduces you to inspiring people with inspiring stories.
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It's your chance to hear from top leaders, entrepreneurs, visionaries, and they share how they found their way to the top and how their journey can help you find your own.
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And now here's your host, former network broadcaster, D-Suite executive, best-selling author, and keynote speaker, Craig Cant.
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Well, Peter, it's great to be with you.
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Um, two decades at Gallagher.
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I'm starting with that because that's not something that a lot of people can say.
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They in today's world don't climb that far and spend that much time with one organization.
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So I'm glad to have you and I can't wait to hear your story.
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Thanks.
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Yeah, it's great to be here.
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Thanks for having me.
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So let's talk about that a little bit.
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Um, I'm gonna start with this topic, which has got to be one you're very comfortable with, which is risk and betting on yourself.
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Um, your career is all about that.
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And what about you?
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If you were to go back and think about your, you know, growth, your high school Peter Doyle, would you have bet on yourself to be where you are right now?
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I would have bet on myself.
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I don't know if I would have thought I'd be where I am right now.
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Um yeah, man, it's been an awesome journey.
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But yeah, I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't know if I could have looked that far into the future.
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All I was trying to do was just put my head down, do a great job, and see where this crazy life takes me.
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So, what was the childhood Peter Doyle like?
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Um, where did you start finding out that this might be the career path for you?
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Well, the childhood Pete Doyle had no idea that uh insurance was ever really even a thing, let alone a career, uh, which I think for most insurance folks out there probably is the same journey.
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Uh funny story for you, you'll get a kick out of this.
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Uh, my insurance career, as I think of it, started on the golf course.
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I was caddying at a club in Northfield, Illinois for years.
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For those of you that know it's Sunset Ridge Country Club.
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All-time great caddy master.
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Sadly, just passed away, Greg Kunkel.
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Uh, he let me caddy out there most of most of my college years.
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And I was caddying for Ann Gallagher, who is Pat Gallagher's uh spouse.
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Pat is our CEO.
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And on the second hole, she says to me, What the heck are you gonna do?
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Like after college.
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And I was like, I don't know yet.
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I just I just know that I I want to sell, I want to be a salesperson.
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And she goes, Well, why don't why don't you come do an internship at Gallagher?
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And I was like, That actually sounds amazing.
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She probably went into the bunker, hit her shot, and we carried on.
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But yeah, that's kind of where the first thought of doing insurance ever even popped into my head.
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Were you somebody who could sell yourself pretty well?
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Did you feel like you had uh the chops to be able to do that and and climb?
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I I in my mind I thought I always had the chops, but you know, having the chops and then doing it are two totally different things.
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Uh, you know, you talk about failure after failure after failure after failure, and you just got to get back up.
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And all you're looking for is that one, you know, Super Bowl moment that makes all the hundred failures go away.
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So I in my head, that's
Load full transcript
what I was telling myself.
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Find your Super Bowl moment and the rest of it'll go away, and you'll hit repeat again.
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Okay, so you've had this career, and I already mentioned the two decades.
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What about Gallagher specifically or the industry made you say this is absolutely for me?
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I'm gonna invest in myself, uh, better myself to climb the ladder.
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Well, yeah, the Gallagher piece of it was pretty easy for me.
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I mean, it was an organization that was gonna allow me to really go sell and make my career what it was, and frankly, in a way, make my income what it was.
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And I I loved that.
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Uh, the people at the organization were amazing.
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And when I, you know, when when organizations say their people are amazing, I get it can sound a little cliche, but like everyone around me was interested in coaching and helping and developing me in such a way that positioned me to even have a chance to do well.
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And so I just I just fell in love with that type of culture where people were always looking out for one another, not trying to maybe kick you to the side to to advance themselves.
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So it just it just turned out to be an awesome, awesome setup for me to to get after a sales career.
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Uh when you look back at your career in the beginning part of it, um what do you think maybe that you did specifically or that you had um in your DNA, if you will, that opened the door for you to have success?
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Do you know what that was?
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I think it was actually the biggest failure uh I've ever had that helped me through that.
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Like when I think back to the early days of my career, I started, and one of the recommendations from one of the team members there was Pete, you should you should chase restaurants.
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We've got a really good restaurant program, and you can use that program to hopefully build a niche in restaurants.
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And I said, Okay, great.
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And I just kind of blindly went ahead and and started working on it.
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Uh fast forward one year, I probably made, I don't know how many thousands of calls.
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I probably had, you know, 50, 60 meetings with different restaurant companies, and I wrote one customer for$200.
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And that is the point where I said, wait a minute, this is something isn't right.
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Like, I gotta figure this out.
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Like, I just put in a whole year's worth of work.
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I made absolutely no
money, but it seems like I should have done better.
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What's the catch here?
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Well, the catch was the program I was selling in Chicago was built for Florida.
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Uh-huh.
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So those two geographies are two very different, you know, sort of rating environments.
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But that was probably, I think, one of the best things that ever happened to me.
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That was the moment where I'm like, no, no, no, no, no.
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You're never just gonna go out and start doing.
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You are going to think about what you're doing, why you're doing it, plan it properly, align with the teams and the people that you know are best suited to help you along that journey.
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And so I just re-jiggered the whole thing at 23 years old.
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And thank God the second time it, you know, it worked dramatically better.
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But that failure doesn't happen for that duration of time.
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And I don't know how long it takes me to learn that lesson.
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Failure is so big.
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I talk about this with everybody who comes on this program.
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Was there somebody, a mentor, somebody, a coach early on in your career that saw something in you that you give a lot of credit to for being here that's helped you to be able to coach and mentor other people?
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Uh yeah, one of our leaders who's still at the organization, and golly, I think he's probably been here for about 35 years.
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Brett Vandervoort was my mentor um when I started.
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And I don't know, man.
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I I I don't I don't know if I would have done as well as I think I did without his help.
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Like, I mean, I'd be in his office constantly throughout the day, and he would, and just if you know Brett, just in classic Brett fashion, he'd always have a red pen in his ear.
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And what he was looking for is when you walked in, he was gonna pull that red pen out and just mark up everything you brought him to review, and sure enough, he did.
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But it became one, very helpful, and two, God bless him, really funny.
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Because every time that red pen came out, something snarky was coming out of his mouth.
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But yeah, no, no, no, Brett, and it doesn't, it just doesn't go nearly as well.
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So, what do you tell other people then?
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What what would you tell our audience is valuable about that?
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Seek counsel, be comfortable with somebody, opening you
to vulnerability.
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What what would that be?
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Well, I think two things.
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I got I got lucky with Brad.
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He sort of was agreeable to coaching me.
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So, you know, you really I to me, you have to have somebody that is invested and committed to you for for the right reasons, you know, like they truly want to help you grow and develop in this organ in your organization.
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And that's what Brett was to me.
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There really wasn't much in it for him, maybe other than now me mentioning his name on this special podcast.
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But he was doing it because that was his DNA, like he wanted to help other people be successful.
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So where you know, people on the show are thinking, well, what the heck to do?
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I mean, I I would be looking for people you think you connect well with and have an interest in really helping you develop.
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Um, and I think you'd be surprised how many people are actually out there that genuinely want to do that.
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I've told people, Peter, I want your take on this, that if you ever want to know what your strength is, every time you go in for a review, let's say you stay at a company for five, 10 years, all right, and your boss hasn't changed and you're kind of trying to figure out who you are, how you fit in, what your your strengths are?
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Ask your boss in your review, forget the money.
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Ask why did you hire me?
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Why did you bring me here?
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Do it every year.
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Ask the same question, and it will always bring you back to your center, to your greatest strength, to the thing that's most important about you.
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Did anybody ever did number one?
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Do you agree with that?
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Number two, did anybody ever tell you, Pete, you're really good at sales?
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Pete, you're really good at leadership, Pete, you're really good at mentoring.
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Anybody ever tell you something that has really stuck with you?
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Um, well, yes, I think that's a great question.
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And I think whether it's that question or others like it, those are better questions.
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Then how am I doing?
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You know, you you kind of got to get to that next level type question to really gauge whether or not they really do think you're doing well, because their natural inclination is going to be to say, yeah, or maybe they might not want to, you know, tackle some hard conversations.
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So, you know, the more prescriptive the questions, um, you know, the better.
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But yeah, I mean, I think in my early network, um there were there were a bunch of folks who were really helpful and really complimentary about what I was doing and how I was doing it.
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But the, you know, but the people you could tell that were really complimentary were the people who were investing their time in you and spending time with you.
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Like the one that pops in my head, I I would go up to Tom Gallagher's office at 7 a.m.
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at least once a week, and he would give me an hour and a half of his time.
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And he was giving me an hour and a half of his time to go through real life, real situations, not like pie in the sky kind of chit-chat.
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And I'll never forget that because you know, it's that kind of mentoring, you know, that that really says somebody thinks highly enough of you that they're going to invest their time in making you better.
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And, you know, where you've again, where you find those people latch on like crazy.
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Talking with Peter Doyle.
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He's a CEO U.S.
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retail at Gallagher, couple of decades there.
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And as I look at your journey, you've gone from local leadership, then you've gone regional leadership, major national role, and now CEO in a big way at Gallagher.
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Um as the roles got bigger, how did you feel less comfortable or more comfortable?
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Uh, always less comfortable.
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Um not because when you look back on it, the role's any different.
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It's new.
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Yeah, it's bigger, and I think your natural instinct is to go uh to be uncomfortable until you kind of work your way through it and figure it out.
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So, yeah, I think it's totally natural to feel you know less comfortable, but again, the things that got you there are the same things that are gonna make you successful while you're there.
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To your question, that's why they hired you into that position.
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So, yeah, I mean, totally fine being uncomfortable, and I think you should be, but just I always try to remind myself don't forget they hired you for a reason.
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Yeah, yep.
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I I talk about that a lot.
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Always remember whether it's a speaking opportunity, whether it's a job promotion, somebody tapped you on the shoulder, and you have to take that as confidence that you can do the job.
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You might have to learn some things along the way, you might have to grow, you might fail a couple of times, a stretch assignment here or there, but it's okay.
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I always remember a story for me personally, when I left television, which was my comfort zone for you know the better part of 25, 30 years, and all of a sudden I'm chief communications officer.
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I've got this big office, which I never had before.
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And I remember after about two, three, four months, um, Commissioner Mike Wan comes in and says, How you doing?
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I said, I have no idea.
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I have no idea, you know, and and it was like it was such a learning curve for me.
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I was trying to be such a sponge and listen and look and watch people that were in the business world.
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I I hadn't done that.
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Um, and so it was a risky move for me, and I was totally uncomfortable when I started.
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I knew what I knew, but I had to learn so, so much.
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And and so for you, um, on the vulnerability side, you're you're in a business that's all about risk.
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So, how has that shaped you?
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Did did you ever feel along the way?
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Have you felt like there were some risky situations in your own career?
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Oh, yeah.
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Yeah, I mean, you you could you could go down a list of them.
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I mean, even the simplest one.
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I mean, I grew up in Chicago, um, as you know, Craig, and I love Chicago.
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And for whatever reason, you know, what when I was uh about 29, that was like an environment in Chicago where Chicago folks just they just tend to not leave Chicago.
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You know, I don't I don't know what what it is.
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It's it it's it's a unique thing, but I was leaving Chicago to go start my leadership journey in Orlando, Florida.
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Now, I just wanted to be in leadership as bad as anybody wanted to be in leadership.
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I didn't care what city it was, I didn't care where it was, I just wanted to go do it.
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So I'd go down there and I remember walking off that plane, seeing palm trees and palmetto bushes and going, what in the world have you done?
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You have come to a state that in my mind you vacation in, you don't live and grow a career in.
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Um, but it turned out to be, I think, the best thing I've ever done.
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I mean, the willingness to be mobile.
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I mean, I met my wife down here.
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We have three wonderful boys.
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We still live here today.
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My job's in Chicago, and I still, you know, commute to Chicago as a result.
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But it was sort of like that jumping off point where you're totally vulnerable.
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Uh you're totally risking just about everything to make a to make a career change and hopefully have it be a positive one.
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And it worked out great.
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But I'll never remember walking off, I'll never forget walking off that that airplane that day.
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That was something.
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Very cool, very cool.
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What would be the biggest mistake that that leaders would make or or have made when they become too risk averse?
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People that that are just not comfortable taking a chance.
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Yeah.
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You know, I don't know.
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I see it a lot, whether it's leaders or other types of, you know, types of employees.
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I I think what can happen is, you know, you you have success, you're doing well, and you sort of have to remember what got you to where you are is what's also going to keep you where you are, unless you take a different step and a different trajectory to get to a higher, you know, to a higher level.
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Whether that's you know, you want to go from X number of sales to Y number of sales, you might have to do something totally different.
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You know, it doesn't mean you forget everything that got you to where you are, but it does mean you gotta really rethink what is required to get to that next level.
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And I think that's sort of like I don't know if that ever stops.
00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:38.559
Yeah.
00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:40.880
Yeah as long as you want to keep growing.
00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:44.400
Well, you've grown,
Gallagher has grown.
00:19:44.640 --> 00:19:52.400
Um as a leader and you watch it grow into this massive, massive global organization.
00:19:52.559 --> 00:20:01.759
How do you scale a business, Peter, without losing, you know, you've talked about people, without losing culture that made it successful.
00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:02.720
Yep.
00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:12.480
Well, I always tell all of our people, uh culture might be the most important thing to performance.
00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:24.480
Uh, and the reason I say that is because when I think of culture, I in my mind I always tell myself, culture is a feeling based upon values and behaviors.
00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:34.799
So when you're trying to maintain a culture, you know, your people got to know what do you value, and if you value it, do the behaviors follow it?
00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:42.240
And when those two things happen simultaneously together, it it sort of feeds on itself.
00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:48.880
And you get one leader believing it, another leader believing it, and before you know it, throughout your organization, everybody believes it.
00:20:49.039 --> 00:21:02.640
But yeah, when when you're trying to scale and grow a big business, you gotta have people in the boat rowing the same direction, and they have to know what your values are, what your strategies are, and those behaviors have to follow.
00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:08.319
And when they do, you've got you've got the makings of one killer, killer culture.
00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:11.599
So I'm guessing that trust is such a big part of that.
00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:19.359
Um, how important is it in your business, you know, uh customers, clients, etc., people that are employees.
00:21:19.599 --> 00:21:22.079
How do you earn that trust with people?
00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:25.359
And and how quickly can a bad leader lose it?
00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:29.440
Well, uh, a bad leader can lose it pretty quick.
00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:34.720
I don't know if it's on the first bad decision or the second, but it's it's shortly thereafter.
00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:43.680
Uh yeah, look, I mean, in in our world, you know, we we don't physically tangibly hand somebody, you know, a product.
00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:47.359
We don't hand them a car, a pen, a piece of paper, what have you.
00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:51.599
Uh, we actually hand them a promise to pay.
00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:59.759
Um and when I say a promise to pay, you know, we're we're literally designing the insurance policy such that if they have a problem.
00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:01.119
They they get paid.
00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:04.559
And that's what we're that's what we're always, you know, working to do.
00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:15.599
So when it comes to trust, I'm it's about as critical a thing in our world as you can possibly have, because at the end of the day, I don't physically give you something.
00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:18.880
And if it breaks, you you know, come get a new one.
00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:25.119
So, you know, our our folks are constantly working on how do I drive value, drive value, drive value.
00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:35.359
And I think the great, I think one of the biggest components of building that trust is one value-added type action services.
00:22:35.839 --> 00:22:52.240
Um, and frankly, being honest with people, whether it's a difficult situation or not, if you can share difficult news, they're they're gonna go, okay, this person's never gonna hide something from me because they're capable of having a difficult conversation.
00:22:52.559 --> 00:23:08.880
In addition to hosting this podcast, Greg leads the Can Advisory, empowering companies and individuals to elevate communication and build brand awareness with bold ideas, lasting impact, and his signature green shoot style.
00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:22.319
From company consulting and team workshops to one-on-one coaching and transformational virtual programs, Can five Advisory guides people to communicate with greater clarity, confidence, and impact.
00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:42.400
So whether you're a leader looking to give your team a game changing one day experience, or an individual who wants to become a speaker and presenter people remember, visit can advisory.com mention the tracks to success broadcast to receive a special discount on Can Advisory Services.
00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:44.480
That's Canadvisory.com.
00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:46.160
Now back to Peter.
00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:54.559
Peter Doyle's my guest on Tracks to Success, CEO Gallagher, and a guy who's really climbed the ranks.
00:23:54.640 --> 00:23:58.559
I mean, my gosh, you look like you're 30 years old, so good for you.
00:23:58.799 --> 00:24:00.480
No, white hair is in there, Craig.
00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:03.039
Well, you you're you're doing a great job.
00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:12.000
And I know that based upon everything you've said so far, you were evaluated a number of times along your journey, climbing uh to where you are now.
00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:21.759
When you are evaluating and you're thinking about, you know, succession plans or who's next to be promoted or how that works in the corporation, evaluating leadership.
00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:28.000
What do you look for beyond somebody's resume that's got experience and results?
00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:34.160
Yeah, I'd probably tell you, I'm not even sure that the resume tells the story anymore.
00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:38.319
Um, I'm I'm looking for all the intangibles.
00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:44.079
You know, I'm looking for does this person have the aptitude to be a leader?
00:24:44.400 --> 00:24:50.559
Is this person going to put the time and the effort in in a meaningful way?
00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:53.599
Yeah, can this person relate to people?
00:24:54.799 --> 00:24:57.200
That might be even almost one of the biggest ones.
00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:59.920
Like, is this person relatable?
00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:12.400
Because people
really will dive in when when they see their leader setting the pace, setting the tone, going, you know, this is what I value, this is what's important.
00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:14.880
Um, I'm gonna work my brains off.
00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:21.599
I've got the aptitude for this business, and I'm here and I can have a conversation with you at any moment of any day.
00:25:21.839 --> 00:25:26.400
So I I'm really trying to sniff out the intangibles, honestly.
00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:27.759
Yeah, yeah.
00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:29.680
Um, green pen in my hand.
00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:30.960
Uh, you've known me a little while.
00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:34.640
You know, green's an important color for me uh for multiple reasons.
00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:36.960
I I can tell people what it stands for.
00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:46.000
Um when it comes to leadership, genuine, relatable, you just use that word energy, engagement, and a narrative, having people be able to tell a story about you.
00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:49.279
And then I talk a lot about all that stuff in my workshops.
00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:56.079
But when it comes to leadership, what what I love that I just heard is something that I want to get your take on.
00:25:56.319 --> 00:25:59.119
So um a resume, piece of paper.
00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:05.119
And what I challenge people to do is know their story and can they bring the resume to life?
00:26:05.359 --> 00:26:20.160
Because the resume, you know, the piece of paper, whatever it is, you know, the digital, however, it gets there is what might get you in a building or an organization, but your ability to connect, human engineering, if you will, is what'll allow you to stay.
00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:24.079
So as you're assessing people, I I want to go back to that a little bit.
00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:31.759
How important is it to really dive into people and get them comfortable with being able to sell themselves?
00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:41.440
Well, if they don't know what they're all about, well, what are we even talking about?
00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:50.240
You know, so having the ability to understand who you are, what you are, what you're good at, why you would be good in this role.
00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:55.200
Um, you know, the the the story matters more than the piece of paper.
00:26:55.839 --> 00:27:05.680
You know, the the the ability to look across the table and tell the story in a manner that, you know, sucks me into the conversation is meaningful.
00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:06.880
Give you a good example.
00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:15.279
We just we just hired a 30-year-old uh gentleman to run one of our largest offices in the Northeast.
00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:16.880
He's 30.
00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:29.920
Well, part of why we hired him is because when you're sitting across the dinner table from him, he's got a good story, he knows his story, he can communicate his story, and he can connect with people in a unique way.
00:27:30.400 --> 00:27:38.720
And as you
may know, in some of those Northeast cities, connecting with people uh might be one of the most important attributes a person has.
00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:40.319
So, yeah, I don't know.
00:27:40.400 --> 00:27:45.359
The resume wouldn't say I've done this, this, this, this, and this, you should hire me.
00:27:45.599 --> 00:27:50.079
But the story says I'm capable of this, this, this, and this.
00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:52.079
I'm the right person for the job.
00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:53.920
Okay, so why is it so important?
00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:55.519
Why is it so critical?
00:27:55.680 --> 00:28:05.519
You just basically blew off the resume and and a guy's career for you know whatever he's accomplished so far, because you just said um it's about the human connection aspect of it.
00:28:05.599 --> 00:28:07.119
Why is it so critical?
00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:11.599
Well, in our business, we're we're we're a people business.
00:28:11.839 --> 00:28:16.880
I mean, again, we're not we're not we're not spitting out products per se, you know.
00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:20.319
We're we're we're doing more intangible work.
00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:33.440
So as leaders in our world, which you know, I think is probably relevant in most businesses, you are a people business, whether you're just dealing with people or you're dealing with product.
00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:48.559
And the ability to influence and coach and develop and connect, it makes all the difference in the world because that's what influences people to go perform at a level maybe they didn't even think they were capable of performing at.
00:28:49.039 --> 00:29:00.240
So, you know, I'll take those types of folks all day, every day, because you you you want great people interacting in great ways with your people.
00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:03.519
You're really good at the communication aspect of it.
00:29:03.680 --> 00:29:05.519
Um, that takes a lot of work.
00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:11.440
I talk about leadership is communication, communication is leadership.
00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:14.559
Um, the best of the best are really good communicators.
00:29:14.640 --> 00:29:18.400
If you don't, it causes uncertainty, confusion, gossip, a lot of things.
00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:20.480
People don't know your vision, etc.
00:29:20.880 --> 00:29:33.279
Um, when you're leading through uncertainty within an organization or an industry, or we'll call it a time period, let's say in the United States, how important is communication in your role?
00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:36.160
Well, you're dead without it.
00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:38.240
And I would even take it a step further.
00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:41.519
And especially when it comes to uncertainty, keep things simple.
00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:43.920
Like simple, simple, simple.
00:29:44.079 --> 00:29:51.920
Make sure they understand what you want them to know and the simple actions people can take to eliminate uncertainty.
00:29:52.079 --> 00:30:10.240
Like you, it doesn't have to be this massive communication plan, but you do have to keep it simple, keep it actionable, and make sure not just part of the organization understands it, but the entire organization understands it from the top through the bottom.
00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:16.640
And simple messages, direct messages, strong messages sometimes are pretty tough to deliver.
00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:18.400
Um, what have you learned about that?
00:30:18.559 --> 00:30:25.039
What have you learned about giving somebody the real straight, strong message when somebody might not want to hear it?
00:30:25.200 --> 00:30:27.519
Maybe you've been on the receiving end a time or two.
00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:30.400
Yeah, well, um, knock on wood.
00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:36.400
I'm I'm trying to achieve not being on the receiving end of that, but that doesn't mean it won't happen.
00:30:36.640 --> 00:30:45.680
Uh I I would tell you, look, people, whether they want to hear it or not, in their soul, I think they want to hear it.
00:30:46.079 --> 00:30:50.640
They actually want to know how to perform better.
00:30:50.960 --> 00:31:02.880
And I think as leaders, one of the things we've got to always push ourselves on is making sure we're giving real feedback that influences people in a really positive way.
00:31:02.960 --> 00:31:10.319
And for us as leaders, that can be challenging to give a you know a good professional hard message.
00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:22.240
But it but if we think about it in the context of that person deserves to hear what they need to hear to enhance their performance, it does make it a bit easier.
00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:27.920
But it can be the most one of the most impactful things you you interact and talk to a person about.
00:31:28.079 --> 00:31:33.599
So have you ever had to give yourself a strong message that says, hey man, I gotta slow down.
00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:34.720
This is too much.
00:31:34.880 --> 00:31:36.400
Um, I need a break.
00:31:36.640 --> 00:31:38.640
I need uh I need more time at home.
00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:43.359
You already talked about flying from uh Florida to Chicago and I'm sure back and forth.
00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:47.839
I don't know if it's every week or what, but you talked about three boys and a family and all that.
00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:51.920
Have you ever had to sit down with yourself and go breaks?
00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:54.880
I need to slow, I need to slow down.
00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:58.400
Um, yeah, there have definitely been those moments.
00:31:59.119 --> 00:32:16.160
Um and to be honest, I think about it in the context of look, I I love what I do, I enjoy the people that I work with, I love the company that I work for, and I want to do a great job for for all of my those colleagues at the organization.
00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:20.160
I also want to do a great job for my family, you know.
00:32:20.400 --> 00:32:44.240
So the reality is, um, yeah, I mean, I gotta have those conversations from time to time with myself, probably
at least once a quarter, to go, hey, I gotta make sure that my family knows they're my number one priority, while not letting anyone else know that they're not, you know, at that current moment.
00:32:44.319 --> 00:32:57.200
I mean, so you know, balancing, making sure everybody knows they're a priority is important, but I think your I think your family in general, they're really good if they know you're there that they're your top priority.
00:32:57.440 --> 00:32:58.640
Yeah, I would agree with that.
00:32:58.799 --> 00:32:59.359
I would agree with that.
00:32:59.599 --> 00:33:01.039
I even heard, Craig, you'll like this.
00:33:01.119 --> 00:33:08.319
I was at an insurance event, and um one of our one of our guys was interviewing George Bush, W.
00:33:09.680 --> 00:33:20.480
And that question came up, and the question was, as the president of the United States, how do you balance you know, work life?
00:33:21.519 --> 00:33:23.759
And he gave the greatest answer of all time.
00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:27.519
He just looked across the table and he said, My dad taught me something really important.
00:33:27.680 --> 00:33:36.240
My dad taught me that as long as your children know they're your number one priority, life will always be simple.
00:33:36.559 --> 00:33:38.400
And like I can't get that out of my head.
00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:43.119
And that's what I think about as I you know ask myself those questions.
00:33:43.599 --> 00:34:03.839
I I it's funny you just jogged my memory because in my TV career in golf, um, one of my most memorable interviews I've ever done was sitting down one-on-one with George W.'s wife after Katrina because she was so involved in the rebuild in New Orleans and had this opportunity.
00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:08.639
Uh, there was a pool of three reporters or hosts or whatever that got to interview her.
00:34:08.719 --> 00:34:10.159
And you know, they have twins.
00:34:10.320 --> 00:34:13.599
I have twins, and we were talking all about the work-life balance.
00:34:13.679 --> 00:34:21.599
And and that topic that you just brought up, that's why it jogged my memory, was her talking about how she and the president of the United States balance work life.
00:34:21.760 --> 00:34:29.360
So I want to segue um from that for just a second because in today's world, and maybe it was COVID, I don't know where this all started happening.
00:34:29.440 --> 00:34:31.360
And I've asked other leaders about it.
00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:37.840
The younger generation, we'll call them the 25-year-olds that are coming out of school, or maybe they're, you know, just approaching 30.
00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:42.559
This work-life balance, this this I need a hybrid role where I can be at home.
00:34:42.719 --> 00:34:44.159
Like things have changed, right?
00:34:44.239 --> 00:34:50.559
Not everybody's in an office anymore, and people are are not wanting to go to the, you know, put in all those hours all the time.
00:34:50.800 --> 00:34:55.440
What do you tell young people who want that or who are seeking that?
00:34:56.480 --> 00:35:03.119
And and does it actually potentially hamper their career to have a mindset of nope, that's not for me.
00:35:03.360 --> 00:35:07.119
I need this balance, I gotta have time off, etc., etc.
00:35:08.639 --> 00:35:25.280
Yeah, I don't know if I know the answer to that, but one of the detriments from sort of remote work, um, is look, I I genuinely think human beings were meant to gather.
00:35:25.440 --> 00:35:32.320
You know, they they were meant to come together, uh, whether it's at work or in communities or what have you.
00:35:32.559 --> 00:35:44.480
Um, and as a young person in any business, I mentioned it at the beginning of our chat, like you, you, you, you need people invested in you.
00:35:44.880 --> 00:35:48.960
You need people to coach and develop and and bring you along.
00:35:49.199 --> 00:35:56.159
Um so, yeah, from my vantage point, that makes me nervous when people are at home.
00:35:56.800 --> 00:35:59.199
Um, because they can't get that coaching.
00:35:59.280 --> 00:36:03.119
I mean, you can't get the same coaching over a virtual call as you can in person.
00:36:03.280 --> 00:36:03.840
Nope.
00:36:04.079 --> 00:36:12.400
Um, you know, I think virtual is probably better than a phone call, but you know, it's still you're not you're not getting that same development.
00:36:12.719 --> 00:36:19.519
And, you know, look, for every for you know, for insurance, I would say it it's really important.
00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:20.880
It's a people business.
00:36:21.119 --> 00:36:30.239
And when our people are together in the office, I think that younger generation, we can pass that knowledge along to them in a really meaningful way.
00:36:30.480 --> 00:36:31.920
But I'm sure there's other businesses.
00:36:32.079 --> 00:36:41.280
I don't know, maybe it maybe it doesn't quite matter as much, but I'll tell you, I it the the more gathering people can do, the better.
00:36:41.599 --> 00:36:51.760
Uh the the more they can spend time with other people to get coached and developed, the they're gonna have better performance and a better.
00:36:53.039 --> 00:36:54.079
Do you think we'll get back to that?
00:36:54.239 --> 00:36:58.480
Do you think we'll get back to office work or are we done forever with that?
00:36:59.760 --> 00:37:02.639
Um I don't know.
00:37:02.719 --> 00:37:04.239
I think we're somewhere in the middle.
00:37:05.199 --> 00:37:16.559
You know, I I I I think pre-COVID, if I was going back pre-COVID, I I think most of the United States was was moving towards, well, let's be more flexible.
00:37:16.880 --> 00:37:24.000
This doesn't have to be a nine to five, you know, butts and seats kind of thing each and every week.
00:37:24.239 --> 00:37:26.320
That that's what I thought was going to happen.
00:37:26.480 --> 00:37:33.199
I think COVID just exacerbated it to the other side of, you know, nobody's in a seat.
00:37:33.519 --> 00:37:51.119
But I I think having
a real, you know, flexible work schedule where the lion's share of the time is spent in the office, so you can get properly coached, develop, transfer knowledge, and just be with your peers, I think is really important.
00:37:51.199 --> 00:37:54.079
And I think you'll I think you'll see more of it.
00:37:54.159 --> 00:37:57.360
I don't think it'll ever be like maybe it was 15 years ago.
00:37:58.239 --> 00:38:01.760
Looking for a guest speaker for your next event or annual conference?
00:38:02.000 --> 00:38:05.039
Fred brings an inspiring and empowering message.
00:38:05.199 --> 00:38:06.880
Your audience won't forget.
00:38:07.280 --> 00:38:26.159
Visit Fredcan2.com or audience to start talking about the green student making it at events of that's FredCand2.com and bring the next attractive success audience to receive a special discount on your event with Fred.
00:38:26.719 --> 00:38:28.239
Now, back to the show.
00:38:30.000 --> 00:38:32.400
Peter Doyle's my guest on Tractor Success.
00:38:32.639 --> 00:38:33.119
Stay tuned.
00:38:33.280 --> 00:38:35.280
Coming up, getting ahead.
00:38:35.519 --> 00:38:40.880
A little help, pivoting off of Peter's story to help you move forward in your career.
00:38:40.960 --> 00:38:42.079
He's the CEO of U.S.
00:38:42.159 --> 00:38:43.519
Retail at Gallagher.
00:38:43.599 --> 00:38:48.480
Um, as I'm winding this thing down, what what makes you really happy when you're away from work?
00:38:48.639 --> 00:38:50.559
Um, I see the Bay Hill on your sweater.
00:38:50.639 --> 00:38:51.360
So is it golf?
00:38:51.440 --> 00:38:52.159
Is it something else?
00:38:52.320 --> 00:38:55.840
What if I if I say, Pete, you've got a week off.
00:38:56.079 --> 00:38:57.280
You can do anything you want.
00:38:57.440 --> 00:39:00.000
Take family out of it because I know I know how important that is.
00:39:00.079 --> 00:39:00.960
But this is just you.
00:39:01.039 --> 00:39:01.920
You get to do you.
00:39:02.000 --> 00:39:02.480
Where are you going?
00:39:02.559 --> 00:39:03.599
What are you doing?
00:39:04.079 --> 00:39:08.559
Oh, well, um, anything that involves fishing or golfing, I'm game.
00:39:08.800 --> 00:39:12.159
Uh, anything that involves outdoors, I'm game.
00:39:12.400 --> 00:39:17.440
Uh, anything that involves fun restaurants, great food, and camaraderie, I'm game.
00:39:17.519 --> 00:39:26.079
But uh, if I had to pick one place, we've been we've been going up to northern Wisconsin since I was a little kid to this place called Derryman's.
00:39:26.239 --> 00:39:28.559
Uh, it's in Boulder Junction, Wisconsin.
00:39:28.639 --> 00:39:33.199
It's cabins, lakes, boating, fishing.
00:39:33.679 --> 00:39:36.079
Uh, they actually have a golf course there.
00:39:36.159 --> 00:39:44.320
I haven't played it in, I don't even know, 20, 30 years, because I usually spend the rest of my time doing things I couldn't normally do.
00:39:44.559 --> 00:39:57.360
So yeah, I think I'd head up there with family and friends, you know, try to
make a bad decision here or there and uh and enjoy the outdoors and enjoy all my all my people.
00:39:58.159 --> 00:40:03.840
So Gallagher, I want to get back to that um with a couple questions before we go.
00:40:04.000 --> 00:40:07.199
Gallagher is really a big brand name.
00:40:07.360 --> 00:40:08.480
So you mentioned Chicago.
00:40:08.639 --> 00:40:14.880
I've been to Wrigley Field, I'm a White Sox guy, but I've been to Wrigley Field and it's special, obviously.
00:40:15.119 --> 00:40:17.119
Um and Gallagher's name's there.
00:40:17.360 --> 00:40:25.440
I've seen Gallagher's name in basketball arenas in Orlando, actually, and around sporting events, big brand, brand awareness.
00:40:26.480 --> 00:40:30.159
Let's talk about your brand and your brand awareness.
00:40:30.400 --> 00:40:39.840
Um if you were to identify what you think your brand is as a leader that separates you from others, where would you start?
00:40:40.000 --> 00:40:41.599
What what separates you?
00:40:43.199 --> 00:40:55.119
Uh I would say I think I'm super focused on the strategy and the communication of the strategy and like specific, not like the one page kind of thing.
00:40:55.519 --> 00:41:07.039
You know, the one page kind of thing where you could hand it out to every single employee and by the end of by the end of reading the page, they could not misunderstand what the priorities are.
00:41:07.199 --> 00:41:07.519
Yeah.
00:41:08.000 --> 00:41:14.159
And the subsequent actions that I think we need to take to, you know, to execute those priorities.
00:41:14.400 --> 00:41:21.280
Um I would look, I'd say I I hate in some respects to say this, but I but I I think communication is important.
00:41:21.360 --> 00:41:22.800
It's always on my mind.
00:41:23.039 --> 00:41:27.440
Communication can be a real catch-all, though, because it can be very personal.
00:41:27.679 --> 00:41:37.360
But you know, from my vantage point, I think communicating those strategies and priorities effectively, um, to me is really important.
00:41:37.519 --> 00:41:48.880
And then frankly, um, I think I have a full open door policy for any discussion, uh, good, bad, and different, not afraid to have them, actually happy to have them.
00:41:49.039 --> 00:41:52.079
Uh, think that our people deserve to have them.
00:41:52.239 --> 00:41:57.199
So if I had to just jump off the page with two of those, it'd probably be that.
00:41:57.280 --> 00:42:01.920
And then I do my damnedest to just stay humble and have empathy.
00:42:02.159 --> 00:42:10.239
The moment your head gets too big and you think you're better than you are, is the moment where you're gonna have one of those conversations you were asking me about.
00:42:10.480 --> 00:42:10.960
Yeah.
00:42:11.280 --> 00:42:13.760
This podcast is called Tracks to Success.
00:42:14.000 --> 00:42:18.800
And um, you have been kind of on a straight line in your journey.
00:42:18.880 --> 00:42:23.119
I mean, uh, granted, you've gone northward, but you've been with the
same organization.
00:42:23.599 --> 00:42:29.599
Um, I I see most people with some detours, some pivots that they didn't necessarily see coming.
00:42:30.000 --> 00:42:31.519
You just talked about strategy.
00:42:32.079 --> 00:42:40.639
If you were talking to somebody or or a classroom of seniors in college, do they need a strategy in their career or do they need to let it just play out?
00:42:40.800 --> 00:42:41.760
What's your advice?
00:42:43.840 --> 00:42:46.559
I think strategies are always better.
00:42:47.119 --> 00:42:52.559
You know, kind of flying by the seat of your pants sounds a little risky to me.
00:42:53.199 --> 00:42:59.760
Um because I think if you have a strategy, if the strategy breaks bad, you know why the strategy broke bad and you can pivot to a new one.
00:43:00.400 --> 00:43:04.719
You know, doing it a different way, you might not have a clue why it broke bad.
00:43:04.880 --> 00:43:12.719
So yeah, if I was talking to seniors, I'd be saying, look, you gotta you gotta find what your heart and your DNA is telling you to do.
00:43:12.880 --> 00:43:16.320
Uh, and then you gotta just you gotta go after it and stick with it.
00:43:16.400 --> 00:43:21.440
And at the first sign of struggle, don't hit the panic button and eject.
00:43:21.679 --> 00:43:24.320
Stick with it, stick with it, stick with it.
00:43:24.480 --> 00:43:28.159
Uh, because you got to go through some adversity to get to the other side.
00:43:28.320 --> 00:43:35.599
This ain't this world isn't gonna give us just smooth sailing to a great final destination.
00:43:36.079 --> 00:43:37.119
Yeah, yeah.
00:43:37.440 --> 00:43:38.559
Two more questions.
00:43:38.800 --> 00:43:44.880
Um as you look at where you want to go and what you want to do, is there something that's that's right there?
00:43:44.960 --> 00:43:51.280
I'm not telling you to lay out your next, you know, your next career move or whatever, but is there something that's really important to you?
00:43:51.760 --> 00:43:57.679
Um maybe it's a role or maybe it's uh some sort of influence in your career?
00:43:58.719 --> 00:44:04.480
Um no, I I mean I just think about doing my part to grow our business each and every day.
00:44:04.719 --> 00:44:09.360
And I and I have a slide that I share with all of our folks around why.
00:44:09.599 --> 00:44:11.920
And the why is because people matter.
00:44:12.159 --> 00:44:27.599
And when you're an organization that grows, everybody, but the whole ecosystem benefits, whether it's you know, your direct employees, whether it's stakeholders, uh whether it's clients, whether it's you know, prospective clients, communities, charities.
00:44:27.760 --> 00:44:41.920
Like if you grow a business, it one, it's fun, but two, it just matters to so many people throughout the ecosystem, um, that it really reminds you on why you're doing this each and every day.
00:44:42.000 --> 00:44:54.800
And I just think from a from a compass perspective, that's that's sort of what I'm thinking about and why I'm thinking about it, because so much good comes from getting after growth.
00:44:55.199 --> 00:44:59.199
Last thing success as a word.
00:44:59.920 --> 00:45:01.440
Are you able to define it?
00:45:01.760 --> 00:45:05.199
Has your has your definition of success changed?
00:45:05.440 --> 00:45:07.519
What would you say about that that word?
00:45:08.480 --> 00:45:10.960
Are you gonna hit me with a hard one at the end?
00:45:11.039 --> 00:45:12.719
You couldn't throw a softball up there?
00:45:14.079 --> 00:45:20.639
Um and you're really good at communication, so I figured I'd get thanks for challenging me on that one.
00:45:20.880 --> 00:45:26.000
Uh yeah, I don't know if my definition of success has changed.
00:45:26.159 --> 00:45:28.960
I don't know that, to be honest, I ever had one.
00:45:29.440 --> 00:45:39.920
Success to me kind of always felt like a feeling around whether or not what I had perceived I wanted to have happen happened.
00:45:40.880 --> 00:45:45.039
Um so yeah, I don't think that definition has changed.
00:45:45.119 --> 00:45:47.519
I don't know that I actually want it to change.
00:45:48.079 --> 00:45:56.159
Um because success, you know, numbers on a spreadsheet or what have you don't always tell a story.
00:45:56.559 --> 00:46:01.039
And there's always a story around the good, the bad, and the ugly.
00:46:01.119 --> 00:46:10.639
And so um, you know, to me, I think I'll stick with that feeling of whether or not uh I got to where I thought I was capable of going.
00:46:11.599 --> 00:46:24.320
Your story's pretty good, and uh a lot of success for the organization you work for, a lot of success for you, and and I can clearly tell in talking with you, um, you're all about the success of those around you and seeing them grow as well.
00:46:24.480 --> 00:46:26.400
So really appreciate the time, Peter.
00:46:26.480 --> 00:46:26.960
Thanks so much.
00:46:27.199 --> 00:46:28.159
Yeah, thanks, Craig.
00:46:28.239 --> 00:46:29.039
Great fun.
00:46:30.079 --> 00:46:36.880
One last segment I call Getting Ahead, which is focused on you and your own tracks to success.
00:46:37.199 --> 00:46:47.920
It's brought to you by Ahead, the finest in headwear and the official headwear of the Tracks to Success podcast, available at AheadusaShop.com.
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Visit AheadUSAShop.com now and use the code TTS30.
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That's TTS30 and receive not 20% off your purchase, but 30% ahead.
00:47:07.840 --> 00:47:12.719
They don't follow the trends for more than 30 years, they've been setting them.
00:47:12.960 --> 00:47:14.400
It's time for getting ahead.
00:47:14.559 --> 00:47:26.559
You heard Peter's story, he spent a career, a long career so far, in the business of risk, helping companies think about what could happen, what might happen, and how to prepare for it.
00:47:26.719 --> 00:47:30.400
But here's what I took away from our conversation, and maybe you did too.
00:47:30.559 --> 00:47:34.400
You can't build a great career by eliminating risk.
00:47:34.559 --> 00:47:37.440
At some point, you actually have to take some.
00:47:37.760 --> 00:47:41.360
You take on a new role that might be a little risky.
00:47:41.440 --> 00:47:43.679
You say yes to more responsibility.
00:47:43.840 --> 00:47:46.800
You walk into a room where you don't have all the answers.
00:47:47.119 --> 00:47:55.679
You trust your preparation, you trust the people around you, and sometimes you trust and actually bet on yourself.
00:47:55.840 --> 00:48:05.920
Now, I've learned in my own career that the safe decision isn't always the best decision because growth almost always requires some level of discomfort.
00:48:06.079 --> 00:48:07.280
Are you good with it?
00:48:07.519 --> 00:48:09.599
Here's something you should think about.
00:48:09.840 --> 00:48:15.519
What opportunity are you calling a risk simply because it makes you a little bit uncomfortable?
00:48:15.760 --> 00:48:17.440
My advice: don't be careless.
00:48:17.599 --> 00:48:23.360
Do your homework, build your relationships, know exactly what you stand for.
00:48:23.519 --> 00:48:36.320
But when the right opportunity presents itself, don't let fear make decisions for you because sometimes the biggest risk you can take is actually never taking one at all.
00:48:36.559 --> 00:48:37.679
That's how you get ahead.
00:48:37.840 --> 00:48:42.159
That's how your tracks to success become a whole lot easier.
00:48:42.400 --> 00:48:43.920
Hope you enjoyed the interview.
00:48:44.079 --> 00:48:46.719
Until next time, I'm Craig Cannon.
00:48:46.800 --> 00:48:48.000
Thanks for joining.
00:48:48.559 --> 00:48:55.760
Don't forget to subscribe for more great news and Craig's insights on reaching your highest personal and professional summit.
00:48:56.079 --> 00:49:00.239
Listen to Tracks to Success on all the top podcast platforms.
00:49:00.400 --> 00:49:08.800
Watch it on the Craig Cann YouTube channel and visit Craigcanspeak.com to learn more about Craig as your next speaker.