Monte Pedersen returns to the Level Up podcast to help me revisit and look back on how I have evolved as a top leader for my business ventures in the areas of strategy, execution, and organizational performance.

It has been 3.5 years since our original episode (aired April 13, 2021) - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1748256/episodes/8325557.

I discuss the potential conflicts between the actual strategy of many senior living companies (i.e. a housing and real estate strategy) and the glossy narrative of strategy that they convey internally and in their marketing.

Monte and I delve into how organizational culture accelerates strategy execution. The foundational elements of any organization are its mission, its core values and behaviors, and its vision. Aligning the WHY to the HOW happens at this level.

"There is no one umbrella concept over a business that sets the plan in place for everything." - Monte Pedersen. This is why organizations need leaders, to make sure that the things you do daily align to the foundational parts of a company. "You can't manage people from a job description."

[Content Disclaimer: this episode explores themes of loss, including death by suicide.]

Loe Hornbuckle is the owner and operator of Sage Oak, a network of boutique care homes for seniors. I had the opportunity to visit him and the team at Sage Oak Denton and saw their warm and caring team in action.

Loe has a bit of an "outlaw" streak, which he credits his late father for imparting on him. I can relate.

In this episode, we learn about Loe's story and how his love and passion for senior care came to be. He shares his thoughts about how other people can become a successful entrepreneur in the senior living industry (or whether they should).

"It's definitely daunting, and it should be," he said about becoming entrepreneurial in this space. He advised how someone who is considering this path should treat each job as a learning opportunity, respect the business, and go into the path of business ownership in senior living with clear eyes.

We also spoke about personal loss, grief and how to move forward in life and leadership. Loe and I would like to dedicate this episode to his friend and business partner, Austin Good. If you would like to and have the means, please consider donating to the same organization Loe supports in memory of Austin.

https://naminorthtexas.networkforgood.com/projects/91738-main-giving-page

Tracey Scheffler is the daughter of one of our residents at Bella Groves, a dementia care community near San Antonio, Texas. She initially reached out when we first opened, but it wasn’t until almost a year later when our mutual connection, Joanna LaFleur recommended us that Tracey came back into the fold.

Senior living organizations often feel like the “sale” is the point at which the problem converts to a solution.

Actually, *news flash* the decision to have her mom move into a care community - even one as great as ours - ISN’T the end of the story. Not by a long shot.

Our customers continue to have a need, because senior living is not THE solution. We are a partner in ongoing solving. [Their need isn’t “placement.”]

As an entrepreneur and business leader, Tracey has channeled her expertise, circumstances, and resources to sharing her caregiving story. You can learn more about her work at https://parentingourparents.info/

We had the opportunity to chat and delve into her unique experiences as well as the universal human themes found in caring for a loved one.