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Podcast | Episode 531
How Simple Modern Built a $200M+ Brand on Generosity & Culture
How can a business blend substantial growth with a robust culture of generosity? Today on the show, I’m joined by Mike Beckham, CEO and co-founder of Simple Modern, a nine-figure drinkware company nearly a decade old. Mike is also a well-known podcaster, hosting the Operators podcast and Scaling for Good. He is not only steering a thriving business, but also shaping a workplace culture rich in generosity and intention, and we’re diving into his perspective on merging commercial success with meaningful corporate values.
Listen in as Mike shares the intricacies of building a successful company while nurturing a positive company culture, the strategies behind Simple Modern’s impressive growth, and how aligning business practices with personal values contributes to both employee satisfaction and company performance. Mike also opens up about the challenges of scaling a business without compromising on the foundational principles that make a company great, and the significance of cultivating a supportive and challenging work environment.
You’ll learn:
- How Mike incorporates generosity into Simple Modern’s culture beyond monetary donations. (3:35)
- How he thinks about generosity in business culture. (10:00)
- What Mike does to build and reinforce a strong company culture. (15:00)
- How he evaluates candidates for highly effective teams. (23:30)
- What makes a strong company culture. (35:15)
- How to balance personal and professional growth with cultural fit. (39:00)
- How to use leadership to unlock employees’ potential. (42:25)
- Advice for supporting team members through challenges. (48:30)
- How to build a successful business with a focus on culture and performance. (56:25)
Subscribe: iTunes | Stitcher | Amazon
(With your host Andrew Youderian of eCommerceFuel.com and Mike Beckham of Simple Modern)
What Was Mentioned
- Mike Beckham: Website
- Simple Modern
- The Operators Podcast
- Scaling for Good
- Multipliers by Liz Wiseman
- Zipify Pages
- One Click Upsell – Increase Sales 15%+ with Pre-and Post-purchase Upsells. (On average, Shopify users increase sales 15% immediately after installing the app!)
Ideas Worth Sharing:
“Culture is like a garden, and it only thrives if everybody waters the plants, everybody picks the weeds, and everybody fertilizes the soil.” - Mike Beckham Tweet this “You get the culture you earn. You get the culture you deserve. And if you invest a lot of time—and a lot of deliberateness—then you will be able to build an excellent culture.” - Mike Beckham Tweet this “If you're not willing to fail, you're never going to get there. You're never going to be able to achieve what you're capable of.” - Mike Beckham Tweet this
Post by Andrew Youderian
Founder and Chief Instigator, eComFuel
Andrew quit an early finance job to sell CB radios online — an admittedly unorthodox career path. It set him on a course to found and sell multiple businesses, host a decade-running podcast, lecture at Harvard Business School and create eComFuel, the leading community for 7- and 8-figure online business owners. Andrew is fascinated with branding, AI, building community, investing and growing meaningful businesses that don't require sacrificing what truly matters.
