In this episode of The Learning to Lead Show, host Mark Cundiff interviews long-time friend and leader Robert Owens. Robert shares his fascinating career and leadership journey, which began with his work at Lowe's and culminated in owning his own construction business. He offers raw insights into the challenges he faced, including the 2008 economic downturn, and how he navigated them with resilience and servant leadership. From being unexpectedly handed a company to overcoming personal and professional trials, Robert's story is a testament to the power of humility, dedication, and the importance of investing in people. Tune in to hear valuable lessons on leading with integrity and purpose.

Download This Episode's LeaderNotes Here: LeaderNotes

Episode Timeline

00:00 Introduction and Sweetest Memory

00:22 Welcome to the Learning to Lead Show

00:32 Meet Robert Owens: A Dedicated Leader

02:17 Robert's Career Journey Begins

04:41 Leadership Lessons from Lowe's

07:52 Thrown into the Fire: Early Challenges

15:25 Servant Leadership in Action

17:59 Navigating Economic Downturns

22:56 From Business Owner to Employee

24:37 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

High-Level Outline & Overview

A. Early Influences and Career Origins

• Grew up around construction thanks to his father’s work
• Early exposure to job sites and customer service through Lowe’s
• Mentored by Tommy Allgood, who became a foundational influence

B. Sales and Leadership Development

• Transitioned from inside sales to outside sales
• Attended Lowe’s Leadership School (training in blueprints, communication, and internal systems)
• Developed a love for selling and building relationships

C. Serendipity and Sudden Ownership

• Entered subcontracting through a chance job ad
• Hired with no real support, he trained himself on the job
• Nine months in, the boss dies suddenly—Robert is handed the company
• Learns leadership by doing—raw, unpolished, and under pressure

D. Servant Leadership in Action

• Bought the company with owner financing
• Shared how he and his wife got hands-on during a critical job
• Gained respect and trust from his team by modeling servant leadership

E. Hard Lessons and Leadership Missteps

• Mistaken assumptions about others' work ethic and mindset
• Learned to clarify expectations and embrace different strengths
• Grew in patience, humility, and emotional intelligence

F. Crisis, Collapse, and Resilience

• Major clients folded during economic downturn—lost 50% of business in 72 hours
• Struggled with payroll, debt, and responsibility to employees
• Made the heart-wrenching decision to sell the company to his distributor
• Sacrificed everything to ensure suppliers and workers were paid

G. From Owner to Employee

• Stayed on as a salesperson after selling the business
• Faced humiliation and ego-bruising reality—moved from corner office to broom closet
• Choose humility, grit, and perseverance

Learning To Lead Free Resources

• Get your Free Learning to Lead Leadership Reading Guide Here
• The Learning To Lead Newsletter
• LeaderNotes

🔎 About LeaderNotes
LeaderNotes is a quick-hit companion to each episode of The Learning to Lead Show. In just 5–10 minutes, Mark Cundiff recaps the top leadership insig

Harnessing Storytelling for Effective Leadership

In this episode of the Learning to Lead Show, we reflect on the recent interview with Shon Isenhour, focusing on the power of storytelling as a leadership strategy. The discussion covers how purposeful storytelling can drive organizational change, the concept of the Valley of Despair in change initiatives, and book recommendations to further enhance storytelling skills. Key points include the distinction between mere story time and impactful storytelling, as well as tips for navigating and marketing the journey through challenging phases of change. Listeners are encouraged to download Leader Notes for a summary of key takeaways and explore further learning resources.

00:00 Introduction to the Learning to Lead Show

00:19 Introducing Leader Notes

02:06 The Power of Storytelling in Leadership

09:01 Navigating the Valley of Despair

11:59 Recommended Reads for Leaders

14:10 Conclusion and Call to Action

Learning To Lead Free Resources

• Get your Free Learning to Lead Leadership Reading Guide Here
• The Learning To Lead Newsletter
• LeaderNotes

🔎 About LeaderNotes

LeaderNotes is a quick-hit companion to each episode of The Learning to Lead Show. In just 5–10 minutes, Mark Cundiff recaps the top leadership insights, frameworks, and action steps from each interview, designed for busy, growth-minded leaders who want to review and apply the episode’s biggest takeaways on the go.

It’s like the highlight reel + playbook—all in one.

Download This Episode's Leadernotes Here: LeaderNotes

Trust Over Titles: Effective Leadership in Reliability with Shon Isenhour - Part 2

In this episode of the 'Learning to Lead Show,' host Mark Cundiff continues his interview with Shon Isenhour, founder and owner of Eruditio, an education and training company.

Shon shares insights on how influence is more impactful than titles in leadership, underscores the importance of engaging frontline leaders, and emphasizes the necessity of a proactive leadership approach.

Through frameworks and storytelling, he illustrates strategies for ensuring sustainability in organizational reliability and discusses the significant role of effective leadership and communication.

The episode also touches on the integration of AI in the manufacturing sector and its potential to enhance predictive maintenance and data analysis. Tune in to understand why leadership and process management are crucial for successful change initiatives in industrial manufacturing.

00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflections

00:43 Welcome to the Learning to Lead Show

00:57 Interview with Shon Isenhour: Background and Expertise

01:56 Key Learnings from Shon Isenhour

03:18 Leadership and Communication Strategies

11:11 The Role of AI in Reliability and Maintenance

14:14 Challenges in Maintenance and Reliability

16:53 The Importance of Process and Accountability

19:39 Book Recommendations and Final Thoughts

23:36 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Top Quotes from Shon on Today's Episode:

• "If you can't tell a story about why the change matters, no one else will either."
• "Leadership without authority is influence—earned, not assigned.
• "The front line can smell fake from 100 feet away. You don’t manage change—you lead it, shoulder to shoulder."
• "Reliability isn’t a program. It’s a promise. A way of working that people believe in."
• "Trust compounds. And in reliability work, trust is the currency of every decision people make on the floor."
• "If your change initiative dies the moment you leave the room, it wasn’t led—it was announced."
• "The people closest to the work often have the answers. We just need to make space for their voice to matter."

Key Topics Discussed Today:

1. The Challenge of Leading Without Authority

• Why influence > title
• Building trust over time with technicians and teams
• Showing consistency through small, repeated actions

2. The Power of Storytelling in Driving Change

• Using real-life examples to explain reliability concepts
• How leaders can translate abstract models (like ADKAR) into human terms

3. Frameworks for Sustainable Reliability

• Change management tools Shon uses: ADKAR, Kotter’s Model, Situational Leadership
• Avoiding the “initiative of the month” trap
• Measuring success beyond short-term wins

4. Engaging the Front Line

• Why language and listening matter
• Equipping supervisors with coaching, not just compliance tools
• Creating ownership instead of pushback

5. The Long Game of Leadership

• Why reliability is a culture, not a campaign
• How to build momentum without burnout
• The difference between ‘completion’ and ‘adoption’

Ways to Connect with Shon Isnehour

• LinkedIn
• Eruditio
• sisenhour@eruditio.com

Book Recommendations by Shon:

• Cues by Vanessa Van Edwards
• Winning Body Language by Mark Bowden