Summary:
In this episode, the host interviews Don Burdick, the CEO of the Tulsa Irish Festival and an oil company. Don shares his journey of starting the festival and the challenges he faced along the way. He emphasizes the importance of building the right team and the roles of a visionary and integrator in a business. Don also discusses the unique features of the festival and the food offerings. He shares his experiences transitioning from an employee to a leader and the importance of self-awareness in making business decisions. Don's story highlights the value of persistence and loyalty in achieving success. In this conversation, the host and guest discuss various topics related to entrepreneurship and business. They touch on taking risks, starting a business, facing challenges, and the importance of supportive partners. They also explore the reasons for business failure and the importance of financial management and relationships. The conversation concludes with a discussion about the vision for the Tulsa Irish Festival.

Takeaways

• Building the right team is crucial for the success of a business or event.
• The roles of a visionary and integrator are important in driving a business forward.
• Unique features and offerings can set an event apart from others in the industry.
• Transitioning from an employee to a leader requires self-awareness and a willingness to take risks.
• Persistence and loyalty are key qualities for achieving business success. Taking risks can lead to unexpected opportunities and growth.
• Knowing yourself and your partners is crucial for business success.
• Financial management and strong relationships are key to business success.
• Building a business requires resilience and the ability to learn from failure.
• Surrounding yourself with people of good character can contribute to a positive and supportive business environment.

Chapters"
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:20 Starting the Tulsa Irish Festival
04:08 The Unique Features of the Festival
06:04 Food Offerings at the Festival
08:46 Building a Team for the Festival
09:26 The Roles of Visionary and Integrator
10:50 Transitioning to a Leadership Role
13:56 The Challenges of Starting a Business
17:22 The Importance of Self-Awareness
20:14 Transitioning from Employee to Leader
22:59 Starting an Oil Company
25:43 Recognizing the Right Team
27:51 The Success of the Oil Company
30:13 The Importance of Persistence
32:21 The Challenges of Starting a Business
36:29 The Value of Loyalty and Dedication
39:39 The Importance of Self-Awareness
43:52 Recognizing the Right Team
44:46 Taking a Chance on the Unknown
45:14 The Start of Threaded
45:58 The Challenges of Threaded
46:28 The Threaded Giveaway
47:21 The Importance of Supportive Partners
48:44 Knowing Yourself and Your Partners
49:53 The Entrepreneurial Mindset
50:41 The Challenges of Business Failure
51:40 Reasons for Business Failure
52:31 The Importance of Financial Management and Relationships
52:55 Knowing Yourself and Your Partners
53:48 Building Tulsa Irish Festival
54:11 Partnering with People of Good Character
54:28 The Vision for Tulsa Irish Festival
58:47 Wrap-Up and Shout-Outs