Chapter 5: Stepping Up

06/20/23 • 39 min

1 Listener

Many companies are able to plan for a transition in leadership. For Norhart and the Kaeding family, that wasn’t the case.

With Ed suddenly gone, Mike and Alyssa are forced to wrap their arms around the business in ways they’ve never had to, all while starting a family of their own.

In this episode, you’ll hear how they struggled, and how an almost devastating car accident forced Mike to realize where his priorities needed to be. From confronting personal and familial obstacles to complexities of integrating new technology into their business operations, this next chapter shines a light on the hardships that come with entrepreneurship.

Join us as we delve into the raw and unfiltered realities of navigating the unpredictable waters of the business world for a new leader growing a business and a family.

Beat the banks! Interested in earning up to 8.5% interest? Visit Norhart Invest to learn more!

Many companies are able to plan for a transition in leadership. For Norhart and the Kaeding family, that wasn’t the case.

With Ed suddenly gone, Mike and Alyssa are forced to wrap their arms around the business in ways they’ve never had to, all while starting a family of their own.

Join us as we delve into the raw and unfiltered realities of navigating the unpredictable waters of the business world for a new leader growing a business and a family.

Beat the banks! Interested in earning up to 8.5% interest? Visit Norhart Invest to learn more!

Previous Episode

Chapter 4: The Loss of A Leader

The leadership torch will always get passed to the next generation of leaders, but for some, it happens sooner than expected.

In this episode, Ed Kaeding, Norhart’s fearless leader, unexpectedly passes away, leaving the rest of his family to pick up the pieces and continue to push forward.

We’ll uncover the significance of laying a strong foundation, not only in business but also in life, and discover how Ed played a transformative role in multiple people’s lives—leaving a lasting impact that extends far beyond the realm of work.

As the narrative unfolds, we come face-to-face with the challenges that the Kaeding family encountered in the aftermath of Ed’s passing. With their leader absent, Ed’s son Mike and his wife Alyssa are thrust into unfamiliar territory, compelled to take on the responsibility of completing ongoing projects, and pushed to survive amidst feelings of loss and grief.

Join us in this next chapter where we witness Norhart’s miraculous transformation as the new generation of leadership emerges from the ashes.

Beat the banks! Interested in earning up to 8.5% interest? Visit Norhart Invest to learn more!

Next Episode

Chapter 6: Grow Or Die

There comes a point in every company’s history when you have to make a difficult decision.

For Norhart, that decision was who they hire, and how they grow.

In this episode, you’ll hear Mike share his experience building Encore, a heartfelt tribute to his father, Ed, that served as a transformative milestone for their burgeoning company. Drawing inspiration from this endeavor, he shares how they began to adopt a "grow or die" philosophy.

Through the voices of early employees, you’ll hear stories about the lack of workplace safety in those days, and how certain incidents served as a wakeup call for how they were operating. You’ll also learn how Norhart’s hiring mindset shifted—it was no longer enough to hire good employees, they had to hire the best, even if it cost them more.

With this shift, they soon realized the incalculable worth of employees who radiate passion for their craft, have ceaseless hunger for learning, and an unwavering commitment to self-improvement.

Join us for this next chapter as we explore the stories of employees leaping beyond their comfort zones, seizing possibilities, and transforming obstacles into springboards to success.

Beat the banks! Interested in earning up to 8.5% interest? Visit Norhart Invest to learn more!