Dave Ramsey’s mission is to get people out of debt. He hosts a popular radio show, offers classes nationwide and sticks to biblically backed lessons in every endeavor that his organization does. Classy setup all around. If you tried to boil down his ‘philosophy’ it would succinctly be ‘No Debt’. Simple enough and we all know this but clearly its not what we know but what we do that matters.

He ‘made’ me sell my custom ordered fancy sporty car back in 2006 and I have been a, sometimes reluctant, fan ever since. Upside is that my family is debt free minus the house and we can clearly see the day when we are not even encumbered by that. I’ll like to rephrase that: Not a care in the world!

Thanks Dave; if you ever setup shop in Orlando, let me know!

Anyways, just google Dave Ramsey if the above sounds appealing; he is 10x more eloquent that me. One of the events Dave goes on tour for is Entreleadership. This event’s focus is guiding the entrepreneurs among us motivating them to stand up and be good leaders at their venture.

Having seen Dave a few times, I think this is one delivers one of his strongest messages to his audience. I was fortunate enough to volunteer for his Orlando visit this time, got to sell some books and talk to people all day. I also witnessed a little bit of behind the scenes action for his organization. Happy to say that Dave’s Team is running a class act and doing the right thing at every chance. Way to go! I had a great time with the other volunteers who were all great and committed and shared Dave’s mission.

For the two that have read all the way here, I highly recommend assisting this, or any other of his events as a volunteer or audience member. As a volunteer, I got the chance to see Dave a bit but not enough to write down notes as I would’ve had I sat thru the whole thing BUT… I remembered I should have my notes from when I did assist the event.

As a note to self, and my two readers (hey there!), here is a brain-dump from November, 2010. These are notes to self so it’s a-ok if they do not make sense to you. Got it? Good.

Thanks for reading! Necessary disclaimer, any mistakes in notes are mine, you cannot say that I said something erroneous about Dave and get either him or me in trouble. YOU are responsible for YOUR actions. Just read, get pumped and go make the world a better place.

@entreleadership

When you have a problem, seek answers in the Bible.

His personal story. From riches on real estate to his lender getting bought out by other bank to this bank calling his notes in.

His team, Chris.

On Team not employees, leadership.

Quality culture, family.

Teach leadership, one hour a week (Friday Chats)

Has 26 weeks of lessons, do 3 1/2 days

Good leader at 50, sucked at 30.

Typical entrepreneur mentality – Flow, get a new idea every morning

Team needs more than leaders, needs entrepreneurs

EntreLeader = leader + entrepreneur

11% on Q2, sales got attn. reinvent.

Even a Turkey can fly in a tornado… (easy when economy is good)

When economy is bad… best ones are good in bad times

Economy just trimmed out all the goobers

There is opportunity in dangerous times

Courageous

Good, quality people won’t stand behind a weak leader.

21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership – Business book a month — Book One

– Business book a month — Book One Character, spiritual walk

All as one c, focus on as then, turn to c

Ben Sanders – Conductor on TED.

Old Testament / Thou Shall Prosper – Oil poured on head drips thru beard. As goes the head does the body — tainted by beard of leader… on Anointing

– Oil poured on head drips thru beard. As goes the head does the body — tainted by beard of leader… on Anointing Delegate what you hate – but check. Quick

You are vessel, if you are the problem, you are the solution

From a small vessel with dirt to a big clean one

Once you grow and stretch you never go back

Good to Great — book Two

— book Two Wimp — not letting go of bad fits

Dave’s team’s average age is 27-28 yrs old

Pre-meet do tour book for event about to assist from assistant. — dossier on person about to meet with.

On leader’s influence — story about picnic with his son on grounds w/ 900 plus people.

Story manufacturing jobs leader — 275 laid off, parks at back of lot to remind himself of his job to bring all this people back.

Do not be passive; leader has your back.

Any idiot can be a boss.

Kids guide enablement. not super strict either

Positional power then persuasion-al power, vision

In every 33 year old, there is a 30 and a 3 year old.

Biggest goal in life is to be treated like a human being

You want team members not employees

They need to get the why

Passion is manifested loud or quietly. Care deeply about outcome.

Systems and Processes will not replace passion in a company.

Man In The Mirror — Book Three

— Book Three I am not accountable to people I do not have a relationship with

Coach – someone who loves you but you’re a little bit afraid he’s going to go crazy at any moment

Adjust, react quicker to new information

Vissioneering — Book Four

— Book Four Proverbs 29:18

Dreams, turn into reality, monetize it.

Built To Last — Book five

— Book five Not only seek to lead but to teach leadership

Balance, Wheel Of Life, flat tire

Some things one is good at, some things one is bad at

Being bad at something helps one understand these weaknesses in others to show grace when one overcomes these weaknesses

Cut grass since 12 yr old story



Dave’s weakness is the social thing… wife asks to dress and go to house … charity showing… cut check instead

Setup yearly goals with wife

Identify weaknesses and setup goals catered to work on these

Story Q2 — he is done with 12 dinner social goal

I would like to get into shape is NOT a goal. Too broad.

Focus to follow… energy into these

Do NOT give kids their goals. Make kids create their own goals

On daughter’s orientation – 59% graduation rate / 27% in four years

Make a plan

Break down goals, be specific

Look in year, $/month — how?

Dave keeps journal… showing an old 90s journal

He does monthly outline / did pre-planning AND OUTCOME

Outcome can be good or bad… expectations

Solid 4th radio show, largest independent

Missing timelines does NOT mean failure

Be careful of what happens when you write it down, it will take you places

Setup goals causing people to dream higher

Money is not enough

Communication, reports, unity kept, meets

Create culture … prayer list, gossip list

Gossip; negative go up, positive go down

Having negatives is expected

You bring no value to the organization

Warning is ok… weird air they breathe

36 calls/week as salesguy in Dave’s team

Insight into call: is a connection w/ person called

Setup general guidelines

Tell me what you want to do and how are you going to do it — from I want to make 67 calls/week

Do not be self delusional. Have to do activity required to reach the goal.

Steve Covey’s Getting Things Done — Book Six

— Book Six People usually do not need help on Quarter 1

20% improvement increasing efficiency (dropping on Q2)

Answer the phone in 2 rings story. but when it rings, it is never for me. he does not pick up phone anymore

Q2 (GTD) is most important quadrant

Things not done in Q2 move to Q1

Be proactive in life w/out waiting for proper time for things — my take



Economy is like our bodies, it is best left alone to heal.

Physician’s first goal is to do no harm. Economist should do the same.

Retained earnings… emergency budget

On micro business… keep separate accounts. Never mix with personal. Profit is what is left… p/l statement

One fourth of money brought in is saved for taxes for < 75k/yr brought in

EAsports, Cisco, Google, Gap are run debt free

90% ideas suck money, 10% are prosperous… but they were all good ideas.

Bad Dave Ideas: AM Radio Station.

AM Covers more space, humidity helps (darkness as well).

Turn wattage down at night.

Signal bounces off atmosphere so most stations turn wattage down at night.

650 grand opry

First cause of suicide in men is money (Sunday nights). Women is relationships

‘Money Game’

Before they kill themselves, they are drunk

98 year old complaining drunk

78k lost before breaking contract

Screaming preacher -> Dave -> Screaming Preacher



Bad Dave Ideas: Adventures In Space

Four book series for Chickfila (who wants five books)

Write Seven books write and show 7 on back of all books so kids get 5 from Chickfila and buy rest from him.

Space camp attorney is irate on book content… stupidity is not legal defense

Space camp owner’s wife heard book’s content on radioshow and chewed hubby out

27k books shredded

Now space camp gets free Dave Ramsey stuff

Be the tortoise in a culture full of hares

Self improvement business, Jan – Feb, Oct – Sept

So he does no July, December… forecasting

Taxes are likely going up next year

Retained earnings

First time simulcast

Prospering in good and bad w/ retained earnings

Weekly management meetings with wife.

On Jewish as worship



Only difference in secular and sacred is why you do things

Overflowing cup story from Lapin

Be righteous with your money

Saucer is why you do business

Giving is done at home. Do not give in business to impress

Little Red Book of Business — Book Seven

— Book Seven St John – Rockefeller island sanctuary

Dave and Chris on QA

Myth – Incorporating to save on taxes

Savings on writeoffs

When you got something to loose

He does S Corp, Lambo Group

LLC Real Estate

LL Copyright

He is not yet at 50% year expenses saved

Mandatory weekly devotionals with speakers

Focused on WHY of tasks

Culture, champions, family

I do not raise money; I make money

64% of business started last year started with less than 5k What can I do with 5k? I got 5k!

Self control to grow slowly

Never all in on one hand

Best, Probable, worst – Three budgets for irregular income



Fear is not a fruit of the spirit

Chris.. EntreLeadership Nashville Jan 30 Feb 2 2k dollars!

On team math, adding and subtracting

5% turn over ratio

5% hire chance after two interviews

Biggest mistake is not taking enough time to hire properly

lack of time leads to wrong hires

On bad stuff… shine light on, demons go away

Talk about turnover

2008 15% w/ life changing events turnover/ 2009 5%

One good hire versus four crazy ones… takes same hiring time

Hiring 17 web developers 2011, 1k bonus — we’re visiting TN!!

Does Dave need Business Intelligence Team Member?

What questions would he asks?

Does not believe in Exit Interviews…

Christian lady’s story all about $ not about Jesus

Check don’t clear integrity, you did not volunteer

Do not hire on one interview

Two ears/one mouth… listen twice as talking to learn about them. 20 min listen / 10 min talk



How can I serve you and your organization

Talent is never afraid of compensation

Lots of hires are weird circumstances

Resumes are useless… good for starting a conversation, may be worth something for technical skills

DISC test given to all hires — personality model – 30 bucks

Dave is high D and I(nfluencer)

Stable loyal

Compliant detail

Don’t hire talented jerks

Lots of people (followers) join

Passion is what you do

Budget theirs… they have to be good at their budget

Check job interviews

Sharon (Wife) – holy spirit – w/ virtue

30-50 hires a year

A good person married to a crazy one is useless

I am not looking for the best players; I am looking for the right ones

New resume

Family with a baby with leukemia. Put schedule to care for them and have someone do their job. Guys cut lawn; girls cook



Marriage counseling: Dave pays 1,2,3 and 7,8,9. Employee pays 4,5,6 = 9 classes

Win Friends and Influence People — Book Seven

— Book Seven Some people are not lazy, they just do not know what to do

Fire lazy people

Apologize in front of all who witnessed public chewing originally

Golden rule… ample warning on coming firing

830/832/900 — in/meet/out <- firing day

Turn away person with problem

Ask to come back with three solutions

Ask (when back) to analyze each solution

Then with suggestions, analyze them

Ask for problem and possible solution to analyze

… until you get an email: we had this problem and picked soln number 2

Grow good people

Drama of show — he skips sidenotes based on time left (or goes into)



Treat others how you want to be treated

Takes care of corporate policy

Treat all people the same

There is truth independent of how you feel

Do what God is calling you to do

Churchill … Don’t Quit

What the heck; fanboy here. And this is Dave and I both in 2010 and 2013. I know!