Leadership...
Videos in this section are geared to help company founders make the difficult transition from being entrepreneurs to being leaders. In Outlook on Leadership, our president Dan Wyant shares his insights on leadership gleaned from more than three decades of managing entrepreneurial and conservation organizations. In the Second-Stage Sensei section, Dino Signore discusses a variety of challenges — from building infrastructure to scale and developing senior managers to keeping employees engaged.
In addition to these short videos, we also offer longer, more in-depth learning modules especially designed to help facilitators run CEO roundtables.
Locus of Control
How much control do you feel you have over the external environment? A little, a lot, or somesthing in between? Scroll down for more.
Locus of Control – Intro (Watch Now)
What is meant by personality
Locus of control
Pessimist vs. optimist view
Attribution error
Final thoughts
The Slip Model
In this video, Dino Signore looks at four common obstacles that can cause second-stagers to lose their footing as they strive to scale larger. Scroll down for more.
Intro – The Slip Model (Watch Now)
1st stage vs. 2nd stage
Strategic Drift
Limited Model
Inadequate Management
Poor Financial Competency
Second-Stage Sensei, Volume 1
Fear Factor: change can be scary (Link to article)
Built to scale: Why growth entrepreneurs need structure (Link to article)
Change Reaction: What Leaders Need to Know (Link to article)
Envy. discord. secrecy:Silos hold more than corn. (Link to article)
The right management team transforms chaos into calm (Link to article)
Activating Your Team for Change
In this PeerSpectives Recharger video, Dino Signore looks at the dynamics of change and how business leaders can develop the kind of culture and infrastructure to handle change successfully. Scroll down for more.
Intro – Activate your Team for Change (Watch Now)
Why people resist change
Building capacity to change
The four stages of change
The winners and losers in change
Final thoughts
Second-Stage Sensei, Volume 2
Economic Gardening
A real game-changer, Economic Gardening gives growth-oriented companies access to research experts who deliver strategic information to overcome obstacles and identify new opportunities.
Videos in this section provide an overview of how Economic Gardening works, look at underlying philosophies and fundamentals and explain why the program is so effective for second-stage companies.
To learn how you can participate in an existing program or start one in your region, contact Paul Bateson.
Beginner's Guide to Economic Gardening
This webinar recording from July 26, 2016 covers the basics of Economic Gardening, a grow your own strategy for economic development. (51:44)
Economic Gardening Testimonial
Economic Gardening testimonial from the program administrator of the Louisiana Economic Development engagement, Chris Cassagne. (1:12)
Market Dynamics
Market dynamics are discussed by Chris Gibbons, the founder of the National Center for Economic Gardening. (20:22)
Premium Content
Commodity Trap
Chris Gibbons, the founder of the National Center for Economic Gardening, talks about commodity traps and how that affects business opportunities and challenges. (9:16)
Premium Content
Qualified Sales Lead
Chris Gibbons, the founder of the National Center for Economic Gardening, talks about qualified sales leads and how the research team delivers better results for clients. (17:53)
Premium Content
Core Strategy
Chris Gibbons, the founder of the National Center for Economic Gardening, talks about Core Strategy and how that affects business opportunities and challenges. (13:35)
Premium Content
Innovation
Chris Gibbons, the founder of the National Center for Economic Gardening, talks about the role innovation plays in market differentiation. (19:35)
Premium Content
PeerSpectives®...
A unique CEO roundtable system designed especially for leaders of second-stage companies, PeerSpectives® enhances leadership abilities and improves decision-making. These roundtables, which typically involve eight to 12 business executives, provide a confidential forum where participants can share challenges and experiences.
Videos in this section discuss why the PeerSpectives methodology is so successful and how to implement and run a successful roundtable. There are also password-protected videos for current licensees that provide best-practices content about administering and facilitating a roundtable.
PeerSpectives Roundtable System
Introduction (1:28)
CEO Testimonial (13:00)
Recruiting and Assembling (2:15)
Content for Licensees
Getting Ready to Launch
Where to Meet?
How Much to Charge (1:15)
Maintaining Your Roundtable (2:24)
Recruiting Members (1:39)
PRESS (1:48)
What People are Saying
Space Inc. testimonial (2:15)
Retreats...
Retreats at the Edward Lowe Foundation enable second-stage entrepreneurs to step away from daily distractions and focus instead on future growth. These programs address everything from building a management team and developing strategy to creating a strong company culture. Curriculum is geared to push participants out of their comfort zone.
In addition to cutting-edge curriculum, another hallmark of our retreats program is Big Rock Valley (BRV), our 2,000-acre campus in southwest Michigan. Surrounded by woodlands, wetlands, farm fields and prairies, BRV provides a peaceful setting that enables participants to unplug from hectic schedules and concentrate on scaling their business.
Leader Retreat Testimonials
Listen to what other successful second-stage business leaders have experienced while at the Edward Lowe Foundation. We know that you will find tremendous value for your time.
Space Inc. testimonial (1:44)
More value for your time (7:02)
Leader retreats at the Edward Lowe Foundation
Our lead facilitator, Dino Signore Ph.D., discusses what’s different about retreats at the Edward Lowe Foundation.
Operational Retreats
Running a successful second-stage business takes more than just strategy, sometimes operational issues hold companies back. See how we can help:
Leadership Curriculum
Our lead facilitator, Dino Signore Ph.D., discusses the leadership series of retreats at the Edward Lowe Foundation.
Land Stewardship...
In addition to entrepreneurship, the foundation also has a mission of land stewardship, which plays out at Big Rock Valley (BRV), our headquarters in southwest Michigan. Comprised of 2,000 acres of woodland, wetland and prairie, BRV’s diverse habitats support a wide variety of flora and fauna, including many species that are endangered or threatened.
To preserve BRV’s environmental integrity, we employ a number of innovative land-management practices. We also allow academic researchers to use the property for studies that help expand the knowledge base of conservation science. The videos here take a closer look at BRV’s unusual biodiversity.
Supporting snakes: Why we should warm up to these cold-blooded critters
Dan Wyant, President at the Edward Lowe Foundation, tells us about the importance of snakes to our ecosystem and why we appreciate their value.
Burns: A Prescription for Ecological Health
This prescription burn was filmed in the Spring of 2017 on part of the Edward Lowe Foundation campus known as Parson’s.
Wetlands: The Rodney Dangerfield of Water Resources
Appreciation and respect for our wetlands is a win-win scenario for the state of Michigan.
Burns: A Prescription for Ecological Health
Participating in prescription burns as part of a team here at Big Rock Valley gives Dan Wyant a continued appreciation for the ecological benefits behind the practice.
Snake researchers descend on Big Rock Valley
Eastern Massasauga researchers comb through Big Rock Valley to better understand this threatened species and its habitat.
Heritage...
The foundation began in 1985, but our roots trace back to founder Ed Lowe, who in 1947 introduced Kitty Litter, the country’s first cat-box-filler. Ed went on to develop a global brand and establish an entirely new industry. He distinguished himself in a number of ways, from his marketing prowess and R&D initiatives at Edward Lowe Industries to his efforts to increase recognition for U.S. entrepreneurs.
In this section, you’ll find a short video that highlight Ed’s entrepreneurial journey, from the introduction of Kitty Litter to the launch of the foundation, along with a quick look at some of our programs. You’ll also find a number of Kitty Litter and Tidy Cat commercials, which were the first cat-box-filler brands to debut on national television in the late 1970s.
Kitty Litter Commercials, vol. 1
Kitty Litter Commercials, vol. 2
The Entrepreneurial Journey of Edward Lowe
Travel with us through the years, from the start of the Kitty Litter industry in 1947 to today.