The Business of Doing Business with Dwayne Kerrigan

In this episode, Dwayne continues the conversation with Irfan Rajabali, a seasoned entrepreneur with a rich history of growth and success. They explore key entrepreneurial concepts such as continuous assessment and feedback loops, the importance of loving the process, internal and external alignment, handling business growth, and making strategic decisions. Irfan shares invaluable insights into maintaining family harmony in business, managing stress, and prioritizing reinvestment in the business for long-term success. The conversation underscores the importance of preparing for unforeseen challenges, staying nimble, and cultivating a passion for solving problems.Time Stamps:00:00 Introduction and Business Evaluation00:37 Meet Your Host: Dwayne Kerrigan01:12 The Fun and Passion in Business01:50 The Reality of Entrepreneurship05:53 Balancing Work and Personal Life07:21 The Importance of Mentorship08:51 Aligning with Customers10:10 Providing Additional Care22:49 Internal Feedback and Continuous Improvement34:27 Identifying the Real Problem: Process vs. People35:32 Handling Business Downtime: Advice and Reflections36:15 Transitioning Roles: From Operations to Strategy41:32 Family Business Dynamics: Communication and Roles47:27 Financial Discipline and Decision Making53:25 Navigating Business Growth and Risks57:21 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsKey TakeawaysFocus on building systems and processes that can scale, rather than relying on individual heroicsReinvest profits back into the business rather than taking early distributionsMaintain a substantial war chest to weather economic downturnsCreate feedback loops between external customer needs and internal operationsMake quick but calculated decisions, avoiding analysis paralysisPrioritize process improvement over blame when mistakes happenNotable Quotes"I fundamentally don't believe that when I hear it, but I hear that a lot because people are looking for some magical bean to pop up and say, Hey, perfect business.""You control your effort and you control your attitude. When you leave my door, those two things are in your control.""The first mistake is on us and it's just a process. There's no reason to get upset. Stay calm and let's just review.""We look at our business on a horizon that's 10 years from now... Can shit hit the fan between now and 10 years? Yes. And we better be prepared."Connect with Dwayne Kerriganwww.dwaynekerrigan.comLinked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwayne-kerrigan-998113281/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/businessofdoingbusinessdk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebusinessofdoingbusinessdk/Disclaimer The views, information, or opinions expressed by guests during The Business of Doing Business are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Dwayne Kerrigan and his affiliates. Dwayne Kerrigan or The Business of Doing Business is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of any of the information contained in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. Listeners are advised to consult with a qualified professional or specialist before making any decisions based on the...

In this podcast episode, Dwayne interviews Irfan Rajabali, from EB Box Company, about his journey from a corporate role to leading a family-owned business that became one of Canada's fastest-growing companies for 12 years in a row without a traditional sales team or a modern website. The discussion delves into key aspects of entrepreneurship, such as identifying market gaps, providing additional value, focusing on customer needs, and building scalable processes and teams. Rajabali shares insightful strategies for managing crises, emphasizing consistency, and continuously investing in technology and people to sustain growth. This episode offers an in-depth look at practical steps and mindset shifts necessary for business success, providing invaluable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners.Time Stamps:00:00 Introduction01:32 Meet Irfan Rajabali02:26 Journey into the Family Business05:13 Navigating the 2008 Financial Crisis05:55 Focusing on the Food Sector06:32 Delivering Value to Clients09:37 Early Challenges and Consistency16:50 Evaluating Risk and Reward21:55 The Importance of Industry Size and Scalability30:31 Organic Growth and Client Relationships38:16 The Importance of Quality and Technology in Business38:57 Unpacking the Success of a Sales-less Company40:00 Transitioning to the Food Packaging Industry41:15 Understanding Customer Needs and Optimizing Production43:08 The Impact of Crisis on Business Strategy44:45 Building a Customer-Centric Business Model45:47 Scaling the Business: Processes and Teams56:26 Investing in Technology and Equipment01:07:51 The Entrepreneurial Journey and Business PhilosophyKey Takeaways• The importance of identifying market gaps and delivering consistent value• How to transition from a corporate career to running a family business• Strategies for scaling a business without a traditional sales team• The power of reinvesting profits for long-term growth• Building a customer-centric business model in the packaging industryStrategic Business GrowthCrisis-Driven Decision MakingUsed the 2008 financial crisis as an opportunity to identify market needsRecognized that food industry remained stable during economic downturnsFocused on solving specific customer pain points in food packagingValue Creation FormulaIdentified and filled gaps in service and deliveryMaintained 20% spare production capacity to handle urgent customer needsFocused on delivering all three elements: price, quality, and serviceCustomer-Centric ApproachBuilt direct relationships with customers as the business ownerProvided personal cell phone number to ensure immediate responseCreated systems to support consistent service deliveryScaling MethodologyFocused on removing internal bottlenecks before external growthInvested in technology and equipment that adds customer valueBuilt robust processes before expanding customer baseNotable Quotes"Ultimately entrepreneurship, at least in my journey, was about showing up, about having some consistency, about understanding that problem and the values that existed.""The box in and of itself is somewhat of a commodity. It was about delivering that value that allowed them to accept orders, to allow them to react to changes in the market that allowed them to grow.""Being an entrepreneur is probably the most expensive MBA he could have paid for.""I remember telling my wife, I'm going to close my eyes, put my head down and work at this till I'm 40.""If

As we stand at the threshold of a new year, what separates those who merely succeed from those who truly excel? How do we master ourselves before attempting to lead others?Welcome to part 4 of our special series, in this section we're exploring the connection between self-mastery and leadership evolution - insights that couldn't be more timely as we look toward the year ahead.First off, we'll explore the art of mind and self-mastery. At a time when many of us are setting resolutions and planning for the future, you'll hear from experts and practitioners who've discovered that true power comes not from controlling our environment, but from mastering our internal world. From understanding the three pillars of creation - thoughts, emotions, and actions - to developing real self-awareness, these conversations reveal practical wisdom for moving beyond reactivity to intentional response.Mind and Self Mastery Billy BeckEmma MurrayHeather MoyseDwayne KerriganDr Greg WellsJon ThurstonNow let’s explore leadership evolution. As organizations and teams plan for a new year of challenges and opportunities, our guests share raw insights about their evolution from technical experts to true leaders, revealing how vulnerability becomes strength, how mission focus shapes team dynamics, and why the best leaders never stop growing themselves first.These conversations weave together to reveal a fundamental truth that's especially relevant as we begin a new chapter: you can't lead others until you can lead yourself. Whether you're working on personal growth or leading teams through change in the year ahead, these insights will challenge you to think differently about mastery, leadership, and the journey of continuous growth.Leadership EvolutionCarrie KishRich DivinneyDr. Tim ReynoldsCraig NixonMatt ShearerStu SaundersPhil M JonesVictoria TheriaultDwayne KerriganConnect with Dwayne KerriganLinked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwayne-kerrigan-998113281/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/businessofdoingbusinessdk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebusinessofdoingbusinessdk/Disclaimer The views, information, or opinions expressed by guests during The Business of Doing Business are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Dwayne Kerrigan and his affiliates. Dwayne Kerrigan or The Business of Doing Business is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of any of the information contained in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. Listeners are advised to consult with a qualified professional or specialist before making any decisions based on the content of this podcast.

What separates businesses that successfully scale from those that plateau? How do you build systems that drive growth without losing the entrepreneurial spirit that made you successful in the first place?Welcome to part 3 of our series where we're looking at the art and science of scaling businesses and building effective systems.Today, you'll hear from entrepreneurs who've navigated the challenging journey from small operations to thriving enterprises. They share raw insights about the pivotal moments that demanded evolution - from washing dishes in tiny storefronts to leading teams of hundreds, from creating their first documented processes to building sophisticated operational systems.We'll explore why clarity is king in business, how to maintain focus while scaling, and why the best leaders know when to step away from driving the bus to start directing traffic instead. Whether you're considering your first expansion or leading a growing enterprise, these conversations reveal the critical elements that separate successful scaling from costly chaos.You'll discover practical wisdom about building accountability, creating effective sales processes, and maintaining the delicate balance between systems and entrepreneurial flexibility. Our guests share both their triumphs and hard-learned lessons about what it really takes to build a business that can grow beyond its founder.Let's dive into these transformative stories of scale and systematic success..."Scale and Systems Rebecca WolfeDr Sam HazledineDwayne KerriganCharlie KerriganPhil M JonesNeil CuggyMark BradleyBrooke BishopTodd HartleyConnect with Dwayne KerriganLinked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwayne-kerrigan-998113281/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/businessofdoingbusinessdk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebusinessofdoingbusinessdk/Disclaimer The views, information, or opinions expressed by guests during The Business of Doing Business are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Dwayne Kerrigan and his affiliates. Dwayne Kerrigan or The Business of Doing Business is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of any of the information contained in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. Listeners are advised to consult with a qualified professional or specialist before making any decisions based on the content of this podcast.