VezaTalks 004: John Chappelear

1. Let’s Meet John

John Chapplear is a highly accomplished author and entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in various aspects of business building, including growth, decline, and turnaround. He has a track record of success, having started, built, run, and sold five companies. Two of these companies grew significantly under his leadership, increasing their staff from 2 to 250 and achieving sales of over $50 million per year in just ten years.

“ Well okay, now that I'm here and I've got the house and stuff is here, what am I doing to make myself feel more valuable to the world in which I'm surrounded?”  -John

Within the podcast, we got many amazing insights into John's mindset on business and life.  John discussed how much his personal life affected and directly changed his outlook on business and the world around him.

2. In Business It’s All About People

People are at the heart of this podcast blog, with John saying that many organizations have traditionally focused on transactional engagement with employees, where the focus is on exchanging time for money. 

However, in today's workforce, employees are looking for more meaningful connections with their employers. This shift towards emotional and connected engagement requires a change in mindset and approach from within the organization. It is not an easy task, but it is essential to create a positive work environment and retain employees.

Yes, organizations may find it challenging to adapt to changing employee engagement strategies and to keep up with the evolving workforce. John explained that this requires a shift in mindset and a commitment to building stronger connections with employees, as well as the ability to adapt to changing expectations. Company culture was John’s thing before it became a “thing”.

3. Making Genuine Connections

From starting his business in his 30s to running a $50 million (annual sales) cooperation after 10 short years, his experiences helped him shift his perspective and recognize the importance of humility and gratitude in life. This can be a difficult but valuable process, as it allows for personal growth and a deeper understanding of oneself to understand others better.

John emphasized on building an emotional connection with clients by personalizing interactions and showing genuine interest in their lives can strengthen the relationship and increase the likelihood of repeat business. By becoming a trusted resource and focusing on improving the overall client experience, clients will be more satisfied and your business will have long-term success.

John also believes that it is important to teach the next generation the value of building personal connections to form meaningful relationships. This can be done by participating in local networking groups and personal visits to clients. These connections should not be solely transactional, but should also involve building a personal relationship to prevent clients from leaving for competitors, it is about a genuine experience. 

4. Be Human 

Technology has made it easier to stay connected with loved ones and clients even when physical distance is a barrier. Video calls and messaging apps can help maintain strong relationships by allowing for face-to-face interactions and real-time communication. 

It's also important to use technology to stay engaged by asking specific questions and showing interest in their lives. This can help build and maintain valuable relationships. However, John made a point that to share it's also important to balance technology use and maintain in-person interactions when possible.

A piece of great advice John had for all entrepreneurs is that there is more to life than your successful business, suggesting that entrepreneurs should take breaks and enjoy the fruits of their labor, whether it be by traveling to new places or spending more time with their family. 

Through his time in business, John has found that It is essential to not put one's personal life on hold while focusing on business and to make sure that one's focus is expanded to include all aspects of life, not just work. It’s essential to strike a balance between work and personal life to avoid regrets in the future.

In Conclusion

Practicing gratitude, contributing to your community, connecting with others, trying new things, and appreciating different aspects of life all work together to find a balance to help you reach success. John has written and collaborated on 2 books called The Daily Fix and People Come First. The Daily Fix is a personal growth book that deals with creating positive and permanent change, while People Come First deals with organizational issues. Both can be found on Amazon, social media platforms, and his website www.johnchapplear.com.

VezaTalks aims to offer valuable insights and inspiration to help you navigate both the challenges and opportunities of digital entrepreneurship. Listen to the Podcast now!