3 Key Takeaways from Stacey Lawson’s Summit 2025 Community Spotlight Growth is the most powerful thing a leader can commit to—especially in times of uncertainty. When leaders choose to stretch themselves, they not only unlock their own potential but also create the conditions for their teams and organizations to thrive. At Summit 2025, as part of our Community [ Read More ]
If you’re a business owner who doesn’t have a plan for how your business will continue without you, you’re not alone. ~70% of family-owned businesses fail to survive the transition from the first to the second generation, and only about 12% make it to the third. 47% of family business owners looking to retire in the next five [ Read More ]
Your calendar and to-do list are probably screaming at you to delegate, but in case that isn't enough, here are eight evidence-based reasons you should invest in learning how to harness this leadership superpower. Increased engagement: Employees who feel their managers delegate effectively are 63% more engaged at work. Source: HBR Higher retention: 91% of employees say that [ Read More ]
As a business leader, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day whirlwind of running your organization. You have fires to put out, decisions to make, and projects to oversee —and that can leave little time to pause and consider the bigger picture. But as a leader in your business, setting and executing your strategy is some [ Read More ]
As we approach January, consider the many ways you might learn about and through the power of perspective. Each Founder’s Day, Aileron honors Clay Mathile through a month of Learning, Doing, and Giving – three pillars Clay believed were essential to building a meaningful life. This year, the Aileron community is gathering on Campus on January 9 as [ Read More ]
Aileron is excited to invite you to join us this January as we collectively set out to leverage the power of perspective to improve our businesses and our lives. Founder’s Day is Aileron’s annual opportunity for our community to gather, advance our mission, and perpetuate Clay Mathile’s legacy through a month of Learning, Doing, and Giving. Each year, [ Read More ]
We’re knee-deep in Q4, and preparing for 2025 is top-of-mind for many business owners. If you’re ready to set you, your team, and your organization up for success next year, consider preparing in these three ways. 1. Prepare yourself: Lead your business with more confidence, intention, and clarity in 2025 Most businesses reach an inflection point where their [ Read More ]
Maximum Fire Protection is a family-owned and operated full-service commercial sprinkler company in Milford, Ohio. In 2013, after nearly 30 years in the sprinkler business, Renee Hoderlein and her husband, Nick, teamed up to build their own company. Their mission was to provide superior, personalized service and value by working closely with customers from project design to completion.Over the [ Read More ]
If you’ve ever visited the Aileron Campus, you’ll quickly notice our love for capturing thoughts, ideas, and processes visually. Our walls are lined with dry erase boards, and our team regularly uses flip charts to display information. We believe in the power of making ideas visible, whether it's through whiteboard sessions, process mapping, or collaborating with a thought [ Read More ]
Superior Aluminum is a multi-generational family business that has thrived for more than 68 years. As the second generation of leaders began planning to retire, the organization’s board challenged the company to bring in a new leader who could provide fresh perspective and draw on outside experience. The organization hired Doug Borchers — a member of one of [ Read More ]
As a business owner, you make investments in your company every day, but have you considered investing in an outside board? We’ve debunked five myths about outside boards and show you how this valuable resource can accelerate your growth. Myth 1: Only large companies use a board of advisors. No matter your size, boards are a great way [ Read More ]
Nearly 30 years ago when Aileron was founded, our first service was designed to help private business owners design their strategies. Now, three decades of study later, we’ve learned a lot about small business strategy. This post captures three common but outdated perspectives on strategic planning and offers more productive thought shifts to replace them. Old [ Read More ]
