In this episode of The Growing For It Podcast, hosts Travis and Mikkel sit down with Christoffer Bak, co-founder of the innovative clothing brand Shaping New Tomorrow. Christoffer shares the incredible journey of scaling their business and emphasizes the critical role of a strong company culture in their success.

Key Topics Discussed:

1. The Importance of Company Culture:

- Christoffer discusses how fostering a strong sense of ownership among employees has been vital for Shaping New Tomorrow. He emphasizes hiring for mindset over experience, ensuring that team members align with the company’s values and are committed to its vision.

2. Hiring the Right People:

- The episode delves into the hiring process at Shaping New Tomorrow. Christoffer explains why prioritizing mindset over technical skills has been a key factor in building a dedicated and passionate team. He shares anecdotes about employees who started in entry-level positions and grew into leadership roles.

3. Scaling Internationally:

- Christoffer talks about the challenges and excitement of expanding Shaping New Tomorrow into new markets, particularly in Germany and Sweden. He highlights the importance of adapting their company culture to different regions while maintaining the core values that make their brand unique.

4. Creating a Consistent Customer Experience:

- Maintaining a high-quality customer experience across all stores is a priority for Shaping New Tomorrow. Christoffer explains how they ensure that every customer, whether in Denmark, Germany, or Sweden, receives the same exceptional service.

Notable Quotes:

- Christoffer Bak: "The best people are always the people with the right mindset. They are gonna grow, and it's your job to make sure that they grow."

- Christoffer Bak: "You really need to be able to have those discussions and tough conversations up front. The most valuable thing you can do for me as my co-founder or my fellow colleague is to tell me things like they are."

- Travis: "It's not just about selling a product, it's about selling an experience because that experience is very difficult to copy."

- Mikkel: "Just having that clear value proposition, having something that you can explain to a 30-year-old what you do."

Stay connected with The Growing For It Podcast and follow us on social media for more insightful episodes:

Connect with us and stay updated with the latest episodes:

Travis James Mathers www.linkedin.com/in/travis-james-mathers/

Mikkel Karsgaard www.linkedin.com/in/10xmks/

Christoffer Bak www.linkedin.com/in/christoffer-bak-813134102/

In part 1 of this episode, Travis and Mikkel sit down with Christoffer Bak, one of the brilliant minds behind Shaping New Tomorrow, an innovative clothing brand. Christoffer shares invaluable insights into the entrepreneurial mindset that has driven the brand’s success, offering practical advice and strategies for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Key Topics Discussed:

1. The Power of Experimentation:

- Christoffer emphasizes the importance of experimenting in

the early stages of a business. He shares how Shaping New Tomorrow began with

various designs and the iterative process that led to their flagship product,

the "perfect pants."

- Quote: "You have to do that in the beginning,

especially if you start early and don't really know what you're doing."

2. Customer Feedback as a Catalyst for Growth:

- The episode delves into the significance of gathering and

implementing customer feedback. Christoffer recounts how direct interaction

with customers shaped their products and business model.

- Quote: "Understanding your customers is the first

step for all good innovation."

3. Resilience and Adaptability:

- Christoffer discusses the challenges of scaling a business

and the necessity of being resilient and adaptable. He shares stories of

overcoming early setbacks, such as funding issues and product failures.

- Quote: "You gotta try to make something that's sticky

with your customer because it's super hard to get new customers, especially in

the beginning."

4. Building a Strong Company Culture:

- The episode explores the importance of creating a positive

work environment and a strong company culture. Christoffer talks about how

their store became a community hub and the impact of a passionate team.

- Quote: "It’s just about like, yeah, you just feel

taken care of there, and it’s like a fun place to be where you're welcome and

everything."

5. Strategic Decision Making:

- Christoffer offers advice on making strategic business

decisions, such as knowing when to pivot, how to prioritize projects, and the

value of saying no to certain opportunities.

- Quote: "Being able to prioritize and say no to things

is super important."

Notable Quotes:

Travis & Mikkel:

- "The entrepreneurial journey is about constant

learning and adapting. Christoffer's story is a testament to that."

- "Knowing your customer and solving a real problem is

at the heart of successful innovation."

Christoffer Bak:

- "You have to find a way to bring people in that will

believe in your vision, that will contribute to it, and then you need to find a

way to actually give them the responsibility."

- "Innovation is basically just doing things different

and better."

Connect with us and stay updated with the latest episodes:

Travis James Mathers www.linkedin.com/in/travis-james-mathers/

Mikkel Karsgaard www.linkedin.com/in/10xmks/

Christoffer Bak www.linkedin.com/in/christoffer-bak-813134102/

In part 2 of this episode of "The Growing For It Podcast," hosts Travis and Mikkel sit down with Kim Scott, renowned author and thought leader, to delve into the intricate balance between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and its profound impact on innovation. Drawing from her extensive experience at leading Silicon Valley companies like Google and Apple, Kim shares valuable insights on how intrinsic motivation can drive creativity and productivity while excessive focus on extrinsic rewards can stifle innovation.

Key Discussions:

- The Superstar and Rockstar Modes: Kim explains the distinction between employees in "superstar mode," who are on a steep growth trajectory, and those in "rockstar mode," who excel in their current roles without necessarily seeking promotion. Understanding and managing these modes is crucial for fostering a balanced and effective workplace.

- Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation: Kim emphasizes the importance of intrinsic motivation—the drive that comes from within, such as personal growth, fulfillment, and passion for the work itself. She contrasts this with extrinsic motivation, which includes external rewards like promotions, bonuses, and public recognition. Kim argues that while extrinsic rewards are necessary, an overemphasis on them can diminish intrinsic motivation and harm innovation.

- Impact on Innovation: The conversation highlights how excessive focus on extrinsic rewards can lead to a competitive and politically charged environment, ultimately stifling creativity and innovation. Kim provides practical examples from her time at Google and Apple, illustrating how these companies navigated these challenges differently.

- Building a Motivating Environment: Kim discusses strategies for creating a work environment that nurtures intrinsic motivation, such as respecting and valuing all roles within a company, ensuring fair compensation, and recognizing the importance of meaningful work and personal fulfillment.

Notable Quotes:

- From Kim Scott:

- "The fun and the joy of a startup is the fun and the joy of innovation. It's the intrinsic motivation."

- "Too much focus on extrinsic motivation can kill intrinsic motivation, and it's really the intrinsic motivation that leads us to do the very best work of our lives."

- From Hosts (Travis & Mikkel):

- Travis: "We need to make sure that inclusion is inclusive, that we're respectful to everyone."

- Mikkel: "Learning to learn from successes and failures makes the journey much more fun."

Follow and connect with us:

Travis James Mathers www.linkedin.com/in/travis-james-mathers/

Mikkel Karsgaard www.linkedin.com/in/10xmks/

Kim Scott www.linkedin.com/in/kimm4/

In this insightful episode of The Growing For It Podcast, hosts Travis and Mikkel sit down with renowned Silicon Valley leader and best-selling author Kim Scott. Kim shares her extensive experience working with top companies like Google, Apple, and Twitter, and delves into the intricacies of effective leadership and management styles.

Key Topics Discussed:

- Understanding Management: Kim emphasizes that most bad leaders aren't inherently bad people; they simply haven't learned how to manage effectively. She discusses the importance of having hard conversations and providing constructive feedback, while balancing authority with empathy.

- Building Respectful Relationships: The conversation highlights the two different types of respect: earned respect and unconditional respect. Kim explains how managers can navigate these concepts to build stronger, more respectful relationships with their teams.

- Personal Leadership Stories: Kim shares her personal journey, including her time living and working abroad in Russia, and how these experiences shaped her approach to leadership.

- Power Dynamics in the Workplace: Addressing the inherent power imbalance in manager-employee relationships, Kim offers strategies for managers to lay down their power and foster a level playing field.

- The Role of Empathy: Kim talks about the dangers of both micromanagement and absentee management, advocating for managers to become thought partners who provide support without overstepping boundaries.

Quotes:

From the Host (Travis):

1. "It's fascinating how you balance authority with empathy in management. It’s a fine line to walk."

2. "Your insights on building respectful relationships are truly enlightening, Kim."

From the Guest (Kim Scott):

1. "Most bad leaders are not bad people, but they haven't learned how to manage."

2. "A big part of radical candor is about addressing the power imbalance and building real human relationships."

Connect with us and stay updated with the latest episodes:

Travis James Mathers www.linkedin.com/in/travis-james-mathers/

Mikkel Karsgaard www.linkedin.com/in/10xmks/

Kim Scott www.linkedin.com/in/kimm4/