Business Transformation with Alkis Crassas | Alkis Crassas | Ep 131

Alkis Crassas  00:00

I have some times people that come up to me, they’re so frustrated that their employees or their reports are not doing it. And yeah, you’ve said how many times three okay, you got four more to go at least

Debra Chantry-Taylor  00:11

very fast paced, fast moving person but I, you know, the walks that we have every morning with my dogs, it’s my it’s my real quiet time it’s been in my thinking time. And yesterday I just took the day off because I was feeling feeling like I needed it. And I have to say it’s I think Gino describes it really well. If you can imagine a glass with sand in it. If you’re continually moving, that water is murky, you can’t see it’s only when you sort of take time out and you allow that warded other sand to settle that you get the clarity of vision. And I’m feeling quite clear after a day off yesterday, and so sometimes a day is all that it takes, but it’s kind of breaking that pattern and going it’s time to stop. So hello, and welcome to another edition of better business better life. Today I am joined by fellow professional EOS implementer. Alkis Crassus, who is joining me from Tampa in Florida. So another international guest just to give you a little bit of background. So Marcus was basically a business owner for 30 odd years. He’s a co founder of Eos, good health food, I think it’s called, I think can tell you more about that. And just recently became an iOS implemented because he realized the effect that it’s had on his business. So welcome to the show.

Alkis Crassas  01:23

Thank you for having me, Debra. It’s a pleasure to be here.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  01:26

Look, I’m really looking forward to it. We’ve had a bit of a chat briefly before this session, I’m really looking forward to sharing your story with the listeners.

Alkis Crassas  01:34

I’d love to us we’re sharing I’ve I’ve been dabbling with a lot of the principles and coaching all my life in all my businesses and also outside of businesses, volunteering and helping others anybody who wanted help. And over the years, I realized that that was my my passion. And my business has started to reflect that example, at Evos. We started calling coaching and wowing our guests, they found the two pillars, the foundation of what we build our business and our culture around. And and I’ve been through all of it as an entrepreneur, I’ve been through all the ups and downs from a startup, going public and running a multimillion dollar business to closing underperforming locations, and wondering where the next payroll is going to come from. And you learn through all of it. You learn about people, and you learn about business that way. And I

Debra Chantry-Taylor  02:37

had a guess. Sorry, I kind of guessed the other day who actually described entrepreneurship for me as being on a roller coaster in the dark. And I thought that was such a great description.

Alkis Crassas  02:47

I’ve heard a good one, too, is trying to control a tiger by its tail. Yep. Yes. So anyway, but as most entrepreneurs have found out through their journey, you learn the most when you face adversity and challenges. And and one of my biggest life lessons is that in every setback, it leads you to a setup. And it was actually during a time of challenge like fat that I discovered EOS. And I immediately fell in love with the ideas. Everything resonated to me both as an entrepreneur, as a trained business owner, as a CEO and founder all of it, it just made total sense. And I started applying those tools and ideas to my businesses. And we’ve had incredible results to the point where recently I was able to, you know, transform my leadership team in one of my businesses to where I’m spending five, six hours a month and supporting them. And I’m using now all my free time to help other entrepreneurs get what they want out of their business.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  04:03

Yeah, that is fantastic. So why don’t you take us back to the beginning of a Vaska has been going for 30 years? Where did it start? How did you, you know, how did you get into it and some of the challenges that you faced along the way?

Alkis Crassas  04:15

Sure. It started us I was traveling a lot around the US to raise money for my other business, which was a real estate business in the early 80s. And as you probably know, in the early 80s, there was a big financial crisis. And I was traveling around the US. I was eating very healthy, and it was hard to find healthier food on the run. And that’s how the idea was born. That has to be a concept like this and there wasn’t. So I got together with my two best friends and back to the US life doing what you love with people you love. And we started We started Evos. And we I knew nothing about the restaurant business, I went and got jobs that’s Wendy’s and other restaurants just to learn the business. And in one of those restaurants, a very fine dining restaurant. One day, a hostess came to the restaurant, and we fell in love. So I’m gonna set back a setup. That’s where I met my wife. And 24 years later, we’re happily married with two beautiful children. And, yeah, that’s how life works.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  05:36

That is fantastic. I love that what a beautiful love story. Okay, so you said, you know that you had, I guess, been using the principles of iOS, because nothing in the US is new, right? There’s nothing in there that is kind of like, amazingly new. But it what it does do is it takes all of the really great stuff from these amazing people who’ve written great books and puts into a simple formula. And you said you were using the kind of the basics of this in the business. But then you decided to actually read the traction book and start implementing EOS. Tell us a bit about that.

Alkis Crassas  06:10

So again, the tools once we started understanding, and then using the tools, there was a beautiful transformation in one of my businesses, we doubled in sales in two years. And when we asked our internal team, what was the biggest win? Both times they said, using the tools of ELS was the biggest breakthrough, they had not the fact that we had doubled in sales. So that’s very telling the effect that he has not just as a business owner, but for the entire organization. And to me, that’s transformation. That’s, that’s meaningful, because I speak often about the hard facts, but also the heart facts, the things that really matter, deep down. And these are the things that make my journey worth when others are coming along. And they’re coming through their their own insights and breakthroughs and realizations and having a beautiful journey along with you.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  07:13

So that was that was when you were sort of self implementing and bringing the EOS tools into the business. And I mean, doubling and sales is just phenomenal. But you then actually went and hired an EOS implementer yourself, didn’t you? Yes. Why did you do that?

Alkis Crassas  07:28

Because I didn’t know what I didn’t know. So I had tried self implementing. And I was after seeing what that was like, I wanted to see what a professional EOS implementer could do. And the experience is a little bit like being in the gym. I figured if I can work out by myself, okay, I can do some good things. But I had no what I what happened to me when I hired a trainer to train with me, or I hired a coach back when I was playing soccer, to train with me. Things 110 x. So so that’s what we did. We hired in my other business Evos at professional implementer. And within a year that was transformation. And you know, being in the restaurant business, it’s a lot of hands on work. And it’s for us to there was a passion there, there was we’re changing the world through healthier fast food, feel great food, and you’re deep in it. And to realize that you can still experience your passion and express your passion, but you don’t have to be in it 40 hours a week. So I’m down to 10 hours a month. And my team has completely transformed in this year through us. And they’re going to take us probably much further than I ever would. And I’m so proud of them for for for running with it. Running on the OS and running with it. Running on EV is excellent.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  09:06

So tell me I mean, a lot of us as founders, we kind of struggle to let go because you know, we’ve built this thing up. And it’s our baby and we we struggled to allow others to kind of step up and us let go and let them do what they need to do. How was that process for you?

Alkis Crassas  09:25

That’s back to what I was saying earlier that’s in many ways have been doing us all my life. I just didn’t know it was called that. I always empowered my team to do things. But I didn’t realize that I was holding on to the divine. Even though we delegated a lot and empowered others and lived our values and our culture. Still, I was very involved. And I was the SOAR I have the knowledge, so to speak, and a mentor. But then what ELS helped me do is realize there is abundance, and to allow others to reach their full potential, I gotta remove myself from the picture and allow them to be their best version of themselves.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  10:22

So I’m interested, because, you know, the first result of using EOS and self implantation was doubled the sales, and that’s why a lot of people want they want that increased income, increase revenue, but the second using professional EOS implementer, you were actually able to free yourself up to do you know, to remove yourself from the business. So there’s there’s two very different elements there. What, what enabled you to take that time out, because if you were already delegating, elevating, and you were already, you know, you’re already improve the business, what was that key thing that meant you could actually let go of the vine, and shift from a 40 day work week or more to 10 hours a month,

Alkis Crassas  11:02

it was actually doing the work, creating trust with our team. Working through the accountability chart, all the tools that you learn through the EOS process, the proven process, and creating teamhealth. And realizing that these guys have been prepping themselves for this moment. As a matter of fact, I’ll never forget, when we first sat down with our implementer, to work through our accountability chart, and my business partner said in the implementer, I’m sorry, the integrator seat. And one of my managers looked up at the board pointed to the seat and said one day, I want to have that seat. And they hear later he had it, he had it. So I think the transformation that happens when you really go deep in using the tools and working on your mastery and staying humble. And keep on learning and allowing others to learn is a beautiful journey. And we organically I’m sorry to use the term when the organic and healthy fast food segment but organically happens and naturally. And yours time, it was time. And the other thing was for me realizing that I can affect myself for businesses by being an entrepreneur. But if I can help other intrapreneurs, then I can affect 4050 100 businesses. And that’s that’s my purpose. Now I want to, you know, make a change in the world make a difference in their worlds one intrapreneur, one leadership team one company at a time. Yeah, I’m living the dream. Yeah.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  12:56

Yeah. And I think that, you know, you obviously got great benefit out of having any or simplemente yourself, and now you’re going to offer that same value to other businesses. One of the things that I think it is, because I think what you’ve just described is you had a good business, right, you had a good business that was doing really well. And yet, and yet, bringing in an external person could still take it up to the next level. And I think that’s what having an outside person does is they really do take you a notch up because they’re able to perhaps see things that you can’t see, they they know the process kind of inside out, and really help you to go on that journey. And when even things like the accountability chart, a simple tool, but when done well and done with a proven process, it can make such a huge difference, can it?

Alkis Crassas  13:39

Yeah, absolutely. But I also want to say something really personal. I think along the way, as I look back and reflect my innate way of being was always to be the hero. And perhaps that’s why I always wanted to help and volunteer at the church or the soccer team or be there for my team members at work. And while that’s good, that’s about you, at some point, you realize that you can be the coach, not the hero. And when you’re the coach, it’s about the others. It’s about bringing value to them and their life. And I would say definitely EOS has helped me make that distinction. And realize that there is abundancy give it away, stay humble, and that others should experience the best version of themselves.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  14:36

So you’re fresh out of Eos boot camp, but you’re gonna obviously go out there and you’re working with other businesses now to help them implement EOS in their business. What would you say to people who are looking to potentially bring your lessons their business and maybe they’re hesitating and going, oh, you know, we’re doing okay, and everything’s all right. All you say to them about what EOS can actually do for them.

Alkis Crassas  15:00

Well, the going through the proven process, the first thing that happens is you get really clear on your vision. That way everybody in the organization in the company in the leadership team is going in the same direction. And there’s tremendous benefit to that. The second thing that happens is that you start to become accountable and responsible. So you start to gain traction towards working on your vision. Because most entrepreneurs, as we know, sometimes we miss our potential. Although we have a great vision, we don’t have the discipline and the accountability, to get traction to make it happen. So vision traction. And the last thing is what I mentioned, that happened in my team, which was the health aspect, becoming an open, honest team that starts to walk cohesively. And I’ll give you a great example, one of my managers knew we were going to close her restaurant. And all the way to the very end stayed fully engaged in the leadership team, there was full accountability, transparency, honesty, see knew was coming as he was part of the solution, and the closing and see worked hard, even after we closed the restaurant. And we’ve created a long life friendship, even though we’re not working together anymore, and the skills and what he learned out of this process, so got a VP of Operations position the day after we close our restaurant. So it’s just a beautiful journey, and it keeps on giving.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  16:41

Yeah, no, I completely agree. And I think that it is, it is amazing what can be achieved to say even with a good business, it can still take it to the next level by insulin. I think I think I always describe it as that the reason I loved it so much. I’m actually an entrepreneur, myself, I’m a bit of a visionary in my own businesses. And I was always worried that by doing a proven process, I was going to somehow be constricted and not allowed to be the person that I am. But it gives you that framework that structure, the discipline, the accountability, without taking away that entrepreneurial spirit. And it also gives us visionaries, a place to be in the business, which is the visionary box, and it talks, you know, it allows us to really add value at that level without getting involved in the day to day running of the business. And I think that is one of the things that EOS taught me is that it’s it is a framework, it’s a proven process, but it’s not going to restrict your entrepreneurial spirit, because that’s what we want. That’s what actually takes things forward and changes the world. Right?

Alkis Crassas  17:41

That’s exactly right. And, and that framework, as you described, it, creates a ground a breeding ground for amazing conversations. And that’s where the creativity, that’s where the golden nuggets, that’s where the breakthroughs are. And it creates transformation is beautiful.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  18:03

Yeah. So I’ve got to ask, Do you have a favorite EOS tool? I mean, they’re all they all have to work together, obviously. But do you have a favorite one that you think is just really makes a difference from day one?

Alkis Crassas  18:17

I think the accountability chart is my favorite tool. Because it flips the paradigm, you know, I went to business school, you learn about org charts and all the little titles and and that’s not important. It’s not important what your job description is, or your job title is, what matters is what we get done for the greater good as a team, and the accountability chart, strips all that away. It puts the business first, where are we going in the next 12 months? What are the seats that are going to get us there? And then you start creating the rolls inside of each of the seats. And then and only then you start to put people in those seats. And which people do you put there, you put the people that live your values you put the right people in the right seats, you have to have both. And you put the people that are have the God given talent and get it and want it and have the capacity to do an amazing job in that seat. And that’s magic. And the other thing that happens, even like I was just speaking with an entrepreneurial company of two people, even when you’re a small company, it starts to give you a roadmap that as you grow. You can get it right the first time and I have to go backwards and have the hard conversations that sometimes you have to have when you don’t have the right people in the right seats.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  19:54

I think you’re spot on. I think often as we kind of grow from being in a one two man band. If we have Haven’t done that thought that thought process First off, then we end up just grabbing any kind of warm body that’s around because they happen to be there, as opposed to actually going right? Who is shares our core values? And more importantly, the role that I’m bringing them in for? Do they actually have the capacity to do it? Do they get it, they want it. And so I think even as you said, as even as a small team, you can do the accountability shot based on the next 12 months. And it gives you a hiring plan, it tells you where the next hire actually should be.

Alkis Crassas  20:29

Exactly, exactly. And this actually happened, every event in the company that we doubled in size in a couple years. It’s the same principle just at a different stage of the lifecycle of the company, it gives you a roadmap, and you can get the hiring done right at the first place. That’s, to me, that’s much easier to do, than to have conversations with people you love, but they’re not performing because they’re in the wrong seats, or people that are performing. But they’re not the right people that don’t have your values. And either way, you have to make a change.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  21:07

And I think you mentioned earlier, it also gives you a chance to see where people want to go in the organization as well. So by having a very clear understanding of what that future looks like, you get people like your manager who says, hey, I want to be an integrator into, you know, whatever it might be, and then you can start to develop those people as a leader into the roles that they they want to do in the future.

Alkis Crassas  21:28

Spot on. Yes. Thank you for highlighting that. Absolutely. Yeah.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  21:32

Okay, so the accountability chart has definitely, I mean, it’s really quite unique to EOS in terms of the way that it actually puts that structure together. I think what’s important, too, is it’s not set in stone, right? So a lot of organizational charts. It’s like, you know, I remember working for an insurance company and also for a government organization. And you know, that I don’t think the actual, the, what do you call the ones that are accountable. In short, the company structure had changed in years, it was as this is what we always have. Whereas with the accountability chart, you’re always looking and saying, So what’s changing in the business, and what does the business require going forward. So it’s not a set in stone document is it?

Alkis Crassas  22:09

It is not, we actually customize it for our clients, and we make it work for them. Like you said earlier, the tool is there. But it’s not constrictive. We’re not trying to fit people’s businesses into EOS. EOS is there to create a structure a discipline and accountability. So you can actually materialize the vision, realize the vision that that you’re after. Another thing that I want to mention, is that when when we were using that, in one of my companies, the accountability chart, is it allowed us allowed us to see what’s beyond the one year two, we would even do some forecasting, and start to see in advance what our hiring plans need to look like. The only thing that he would do is that every time we had an issue, we would ask who’s accountable for that. And we would bring up our accountability chart. And it caused us to realize sometimes that we had missed a role. Or perhaps over time, if the issue started to recurring, maybe we need another seat that we didn’t have there before. So using that lens to actually solve issues that you face on a weekly basis, was very helpful.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  23:39

I’m really keen to ask you, because I know that in our business, we we do use tools like technology tools to manage the whole EOS system. But we still actually have a printed out laminated double sided version of eto that we print out every quarter and laminate against we’ve got a version of it. How did you keep that alive in your business? Because how many staff did you have? Or do you have any of us I should say,

Alkis Crassas  24:06

it was was about 50. But were We specially we use that specifically in another business that I’m part of. And we had about 35 people there. And we were literally every time we were in a zoom call. Now we’re solving a problem. We would bring the accountability chart on the screen, and we would look where in the accountability chart is this issue stemming from? And is the issue with the fact that we haven’t defined it properly or thought it through correctly. So that was something for the leadership team to set it up. Right and then go back to the team and say this is what we need to do going forward. Or was it that somebody wasn’t performing? And it really helped us to improve the accountability chart and customize it make our own and also we brought it Life because we use it on a weekly basis.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  25:04

And similar with the BTO, did you have a, you know, a way of sharing that with the team? How did you do that?

Alkis Crassas  25:10

Oh, absolutely. We do that on a quarterly basis. When we bring our entire team together, we look at where we’ve been last quarter, where we are now, where are we going in the next 90 days, we continually talk about the values and our core focus and our 10 year target. So everybody hears a message over and over and over again, it takes seven times at least right for somebody to remember something. And in in Greek, we have a saying that repetition is the mother of education. So, yes, and so we do that Quarterly, we also, again, try to bring this toast to life. So in that business, what we do, we celebrate every quarterly people that have lived their values, and we acknowledge them publicly, and celebrate those wins.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  26:12

Yes, that sounds really good. I mean, that’s, that’s what we teach to our clients. So nice to hear that actually, you know, how that works in real life. Okay, so I just want to understand a little bit in terms of if you were, if there was a person listening on this call, and perhaps they’re going through a bit of a tough time. And I’m just looking here, they’re saying, I wrote down, every setback leads to a set up. So you guys would have a tough time you kind of going, Oh, I don’t know, I don’t know what the future looks like. Or I just feel like I’m really stuck, I’ve hit a ceiling, I can’t move past it. What would be your three top tips or advice you would give to those people?

Alkis Crassas  26:48

First, become quiet your mind down. Because you can see the setup, if there is noise in your head. So you almost have to quiet your mind’s eye and start to observe. Because the answers are there, the set up is in front of us. We just have to see it, acknowledge that call it out. But we have to quiet down the noise in order to do that. So so that would be number one.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  27:24

Do you have any tips for that? Like what do you do to quiet your mind?

Alkis Crassas  27:27

For me, it’s walks with my dog. It’s watching sunsets and sunrises. is meditating is just having breaks, not not working around the clock says, take, you know, take breaks, whether you need a day, a weekend, a month. I mean, you know, the Greeks, they don’t work very much. So I guess I have that enemy. Yeah, I’m a hard worker, because I love what I do. So I don’t call it work. It’s I’m living my passion life and done it all my life. So I’ve never worked a day in my life, I guess in that regard. So that’s what I did to quiet my mind.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  28:18

And I think it’s I think that’s really important. I mean, I’m a very fast paced, fast moving person, but I you know, the walks that we have every morning with my dogs, it’s my it’s my real quiet time. It’s been my thinking time. And yesterday, I just took the day off because I was feeling feeling like I needed it. And I have to say it’s I think Gino describes it really well. If you can imagine a glass with sand in it. If you’re continually moving, that water is murky, you can’t see. It’s only when you sort of take time out and you allow that water or the sand to settle that you get the clarity of vision. And I’m feeling quite clear after a day off yesterday. And so sometimes a day is all that it takes but it’s kind of breaking that pattern and going it’s time to stop.

Alkis Crassas  28:59

That’s great. Yes. Thank you for sharing that visual. Absolutely. Yeah.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  29:04

Okay, so that’s tip number one is Yep. Clear that mind.

Alkis Crassas  29:07

Yes. The The other thing for me, is this staying humble, staying humble. And oftentimes that how that translates is if you don’t think you’re the person with all the answers, and you you’re curious and you start asking. You’ll find answers and setups, breakthroughs, with your team, with your colleagues, with your customers. The answers are there. You just have to ask. You just have to be curious to find them.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  29:45

That’s beautiful. You’re absolutely right. We don’t have to be the hero. Right. Let’s go back to your original trilogy. Yes.

Alkis Crassas  29:50

Don’t have to be the hero. Correct? Yeah, that’s heroes about the ego. Which leads to the third one which is Stay abundant, stay abundant. There is enough out there. And we just have to know and have the confidence that it’s in front of us. And we’ll find our way. We’ve been speaking with our, with our leadership team, in terms of competition. And in the restaurant space, it’s very competitive. As a matter of fact, in one of the locations that we’re in is like, almost like a food court. There’s so many restaurants in the same food court. But once you start thinking of everybody else, as cooperation and collaboration, versus competition, and coming from an abundant mindset, and then you want to be a blessing, you start being a blessing to others, you start being a blessing to your employees, you start being a blessing to your partners, the people, you do business with your vendors, how can you help? What can you do for them? How can you create value for others? That’s the abundant mindset that I’m talking about. And I feel that when you live in that space, abundance also comes to you is not because you’re seeking it and doing it for that purpose. But it just happens like that.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  31:24

You just attract the right things when you’re doing the right thing yourself.

Alkis Crassas  31:28

I mean, we are energy beings, right? So you attract that energy, I guess you can say yes.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  31:36

It’s part of the reason why I love doing these podcasts. Because I love the people that come on here. I always take so much from them. And I know that I’m also offering that value to other people, too. And it’s yeah, as you said, energy, it just feels great to be on these calls.

Alkis Crassas  31:52

It’s wonderful. And you’re a great host.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  31:55

Thank you very much. Okay, we could probably talk for hours as I could do with all of my guests that maybe we will do. We’ll have a cup of coffee one day, I actually grew up in Cyprus, by the way, and if you knew that, but that was my original. My father was in the Air Force. Yeah. So I have to come I have to go back to Cyprus and Greece one day, I haven’t been back as an adult.

Alkis Crassas  32:14

Let’s do it. I go every summer. Do ya know, now you know, somebody and you don’t have to be a tourist, you can be a visitor. That’s a big difference.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  32:23

I love it. I love it. So let’s just talk a little bit about you now for a moment. So with your professional EOS implemented hat on, what is your ideal client? Who do you love working with? And why?

Alkis Crassas  32:35

Thank you. Great question. The ideal client is an entrepreneurial company, or a leadership team or entrepreneur or owner, that has an entrepreneurial spirit that want to grow. They’re more afraid of status quo than they are of growing, but they do so in a open, honest, self reflecting manner. That way, we can really do the work and apply the tools and the disciplines, size wise. 10 To 250 employees. And, you know, it’s I’ve even worked with some Oregon nonprofit organizations, which is not exactly the EOS model or ideal client. But when they haven’t intrapreneurial spirits. Nonprofit organizations are great too, because they want to grow. As a matter of fact, I’m helping one right now. And it’s very exciting. Yes.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  33:43

Okay, and is there a particular location that you’d like to work within.

Alkis Crassas  33:47

So I’m very committed to my, my freedom and my time with my family. So I’d like to work with clients that are here in the Tampa Bay area, or within an hour’s drive of Tampa Bay. But I also welcome clients that want to fly to Tampa Bay. It’s a beautiful destination and location with lots to do great food. I’m a foodie, by the way, I love great food. Great wine. Great company. And, yeah, so anybody that wants to come to Tampa, or anybody who is in Tampa, I’d be happy to have a chat with them and see if we can transform their business.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  34:27

Okay, so how do they actually get ahold of you? What’s the best way to get ahold of you?

Alkis Crassas  34:31

You can get a hold of me through LinkedIn, you can go to my EOS website. I’ll post these things on. Everything is posted on LinkedIn.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  34:43

I’m gonna make sure that that link is also in the bottom of this podcast as well.

Alkis Crassas  34:46

And we can I can provide my email people can reach out to me via email. Yep. I think I’m easy to find.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  34:53

I think you have two little sayings that I wrote down from this podcast, which I really, really loved. So the Greek thing there repetition is the mother of education. I think that’s absolutely fantastic. Because I think, definitely as entrepreneurs, we kind of fill up. We’ve told you this once already. It’s like, yep, guess what, you’ve got another six times to go if you’re lucky. It could be more.

Alkis Crassas  35:12

You’re so right, Deborah, I have some times people that come up to me, they’re so frustrated that their employees or their reports are not doing it. And yeah, he said, How many times three? Okay, he got four more used, at least.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  35:28

It’s so true. And the other one that I just absolutely love, and I’m going to definitely steal this is like every setback leads you to a set up. And I think that, you know, when we’re going through challenging times, it can be tough to see that. But I speaking from my own experience, I know that to be true. Every time something has gone, you know, potentially disastrously wrong, something really good has come out of it. And so I think it’s really important, we keep that in our mind. be resilient, just just keep going. Things happen for a reason. As long as you take the learnings from it, it’s always good.

Alkis Crassas  35:58

Yes. Well said,

Debra Chantry-Taylor  36:01

thank you. And I love I love your story. I love listening to you know, how you have grown, the businesses you’re involved in. And I think most importantly, I’m loving the fact that you’re now taking that time out working more in that coaching role for 10 hours a month, rather than the full time role. You’ve gone from the hero to the coach to the person who’s you know, and, and loving seeing the results that’s bringing as well, so well done. Congratulations.

Alkis Crassas  36:25

Absolutely, yes. And allows me to pursue my passion, which is you know, to help other entrepreneurs and other business owners, so it’s wonderful. I hope your listeners didn’t have too hard of a time listening to my Greek accent. But my wife told me once he met me if I lose the accent, I’m done. So I’m holding on to that accent. We’ve been married 24 years. I’m holding on to it,

Debra Chantry-Taylor  36:49

To be fair, it’s actually not too bad. I mean, I don’t know how you’ve gone. Mine’s a bit of a mixture of an accent but we have. We have listeners from all over the world. I’m pretty certainly used to hearing different accents. Wonderful. I look thank you again, so much for your time, pleasure to talk to you. And we’ll make sure all those details are in the bottom of this podcast if anybody wants to talk to you.

Alkis Crassas  37:07

Thank you, Deborah was my pleasure.

Debra Chantry-Taylor  37:10

Thank you very much.