Avoiding Technology Traps Owners in the Day-to-Day | Shields Windshields - Brad Shields скачать в хорошем качестве

Avoiding Technology Traps Owners in the Day-to-Day | Shields Windshields - Brad Shields

Most business owners know technology matters, but many delay the decision because of cost, fear, or not knowing where to start. The result is usually the same, the owner stays buried in the day-to-day while growth stalls. In this episode of Self-Made Is a Myth, Tim Campsall sits down with Brad Shields, owner of Shields Windshields, to unpack how resisting technology upgrades quietly limited growth, created bottlenecks, and kept too much responsibility on the owner’s shoulders. Brad shares the real story behind building a high-performance manufacturing business, navigating a family business transition, and making the leap from manual processes to automation, systems, and leadership depth. He also opens up about the mindset shifts required to let go, trust a growing team, and build a company that can scale beyond the founder. If you are a business owner who knows your business cannot keep growing the way it is currently run, this conversation will hit close to home. ⸻ What You’ll Learn in This Episode: • Why delaying technology investments often costs more than making them • How being the bottleneck slows growth even when demand is strong • The hidden leadership shift required to let go without losing control • Why “having the best product” is not enough to scale • How building the right team and management structure creates freedom ⸻ Looking To Scale Your Business: Did you know that only 9% of businesses make it to $1,000,000 in revenue and less than 1% reach $10,000,000. The hustle and grind that got you to $1,000,000 will not get you beyond it. To scale past the Messy Middle, you need stronger systems, clearer structure, and disciplined execution. Book a Discovery Call to see how our ActionCOACH Business Operating System (ABoS) and coaching help you get unstuck and move toward sustainable scaling so you can achieve your personal dreams and business goals. https://tbcactioncoach.com/discovery-... Sign up for our weekly business tips https://tbcactioncoach.com/resources/... ⸻ Timestamps: (00:00) Why avoiding technology quietly stalls growth (02:20) Escaping low-margin work and rethinking the business model (04:00) Running everything manually and wearing every hat (06:30) The fear behind investing in automation and equipment (08:05) The personal cost of being stuck in the day-to-day (10:55) Why the best product alone does not scale a business (14:40) The mindset shift required to let go without losing control (18:00) Building leadership, management, and accountability (22:50) Installing systems to prepare for future expansion (26:50) Why self-made success is a myth and who helped most ⸻ Brad Shields was born and raised in Indiana, and continues to live in Martrinsville. Married to Karen for 36 years, they have raised to fantastic and successful children, Beau (32) and Alyxa (30); and are enjoying the rewards of being grandparents (Theodora and Ripson). After teaching high school and being a head football coach for 10 years, Brad officially joined the family business (Form/Tec Plastics) in 1999. The business was started in our family garage in 1975, producing acrylic motorcycle fairings. Brad was determined to take the ingenuity in forming and coating polycarbonate from custom jobs to the retail market. Beginning with motorsports and recreation, and grew into heavy equipment replacement windows. While enjoying success as an OEM supplier for the likes of Caterpillar, John Deere, Case/New Holland and others, the past decade has shifted to supplying the aftermarket world with the SHIELDS(r) line of windows. Currently offering over 1,600 SKU's for all makes and models and types of heavy equipment, SHIELDS(r) also supplies end users with the highest quality 'specialty' windows. From Disney to custom car builders to performance offshore boats - the quality and service from SHIELDS(r) is unmatched. Shipping worldwide and expanding our facilities have seen the family business grow to 70+ employees. Along the way Brad, from the influence of his parents, has insisted their company maintain a strong philanthropic presence locally. Brad oversees the most talented and dedicated team enabling SHIELDS(r) Windshields to grow and expand.