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What does it take to scale a business?

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Strategy and Leadership Podcast with Anthony Taylor What does it take to scale a business? Join me as I talk with Anthony Taylor about how I managed to climb the stairs to success. Moving onto the corporate ladder takes a lot of effort, but being …

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Preparing New Leaders to Inspire Their Teams

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If you’re like me, you’ve wondered about this. Companies identify young people with promise and look for ways to promote them. The goal usually is to support their growth and also to not lose them to greener pastures. As they move up the ladder, their …

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The Remarkable Leadership Podcast

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Check out my latest interview on The Remarkable Leadership Podcast hosted by Kevin Eikenberry. We had a great conversation about leadership, lessons learned during my journey, and how you can apply them for your greater success. Ways to watch: LinkedIn Facebook Twitter YouTube

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The Inspiration Pathway

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If your journey’s been anything like mine, you’ve heard plenty of leadership advice. First my career and then my business have taught me a lot about leadership, starting with the nuts and bolts of making a strategy (creating products and services that our customer’s value) …

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What Defines You: The Hero or the Shadow? (Part II)

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When I go to the movies, I notice that there always seems to be a fine line between good and evil in those stories that captivates me. The Marvel superhero-villain movie franchise has been hugely successful, and I think it’s at least partly because of …

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Setting a Better Course for Yourself

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In my experience, February is usually the month where people run into the wall of reality in their efforts to make changes in the new year. It may seem like a painful question to consider, but do you know why you’ve failed so far? Obviously, …

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Keith Receives 2023 Wisconsin Titan 100 Award

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On Thursday, January 12th, more than 500 guests celebrated the 2023 Wisconsin Titan 100 at Fiserv Forum and I’m excited to share the official awards video! Click below to watch highlights from this incredible event spent honoring the inaugural Wisconsin Titan 100.  I was one …

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Be a Strengths Finder

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A defining event early in my career was the day a manager said he saw leadership potential in me. He was willing to invest in me because of that, which gave me a huge amount of confidence. That confidence, in turn, allowed me to see …

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Announcing the recipients of the 2023 Wisconsin Titan 100

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Titan CEO and headline sponsor Wipfli LLP are pleased to announce Keith Smith, president of Vonco Products, LLC as a 2023 Wisconsin Titan 100. The Titan 100 program recognizes Wisconsin’s Top 100 CEO’s & C-level executives. They are the area’s most accomplished business leaders in …

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Closing Loops and Overcoming Procrastination

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I‘m not sure if you are like me, but I recently reflected on the personal impact of breaking promises to myself. You know, the ones where no one else knows but yourself. ‘Hey – I didn’t commit this to anyone else, it’s not hurting anything …

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It’s Time to Create Value Through Good Leadership

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Keith was selected as a featured guest on an episode of IT’S TIME, a podcast featuring UWO faculty and industry experts discussing leadership development and business strategy in northeast Wisconsin. Join Professor Dale Feinauer and Keith Smith as they discuss business strategies and leadership concepts …

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Authenticity and Innovation in Team Leadership

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When I bought my company, I became its CEO and was very focused on trying to prove myself to my new employees. There was an image I constantly worked to portray of the knowledgeable, tenacious leader. I wanted to always say the right thing and …

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Cultivating Infectious Energy

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Do you remember the last time you felt infectious energy? If you struggle to maintain higher energy and infectious leadership, this week’s podcast post can help. https://letsgrowleaders.com/2022/08/12/cultivating-infectious-energy-with-keith-smith/

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4 Kinds of Energy

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What it Means to Cultivate Infectious Energy Among the most important skills I’ve learned in my entrepreneurial journey is how to manage my energy. I want my energy to be infectious because I want to make a positive impact on everyone I come into contact …

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The Growth Process Podcast

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I had a great time appearing on The Growth Process Podcast with host Tim Rohling. Check it out. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1785391/10832775-connect-with-yourself-for-authentic-personal-business-growth-with-keith-smith    

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Cool Change Podcast

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Check out the new Cool Change podcast hosted by Chuck Allen, and featuring me, Keith Smith. I’ve walked a well-worn path to success. I made business the priority and fit in everything else after. Not that unusual, really. And neither was the result: divorce, stress, …

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The Unlabeled Leadership Podcast

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The Unlabeled Leadership Podcast April 28, 2022 BONUS COVERAGE: in episode 142 of the Unlabeled Leadership podcast, host Gary DePaul, PhD continues his interview with Keith. https://www.garyadepaul.com/Podcast/

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Leading the Charge: How I Inspire My Team

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I work to inspire my team the same way I’ve learned to inspire myself: by using every tool at my disposal to manage my energy.  I lead by example and teach along the way, reminding everyone that there are three or four big things in …

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The Unlabeled Leadership Podcast

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On episode 141 of the Unlabeled Leadership podcast, Keith is interviewed by host Gary DePaul, PhD and discusses how anyone can harness the power of focus, insight, and accountability to achieve the results you crave. https://www.garyadepaul.com/Podcast/

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The Power Unleashed By Sense of Purpose

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Ikigai and the Energy Unleashed by Identifying Your Purpose Entrepreneurs are often dubious about “personal growth” activities like identifying their sense of purpose or spending time getting to know themselves. It all sounds new-agey and beside the point.  “My purpose is to make money with …

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My time in the jungle (literally): Facing my fears

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As men, we love to portray the persona that we aren’t afraid of anything. If you’re like me, however, the biggest fear I have is admitting how much control fear has over my life.  The past couple years, I’ve been blessed to be part of a …

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Surviving and thriving through and past COVID

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An approach that’s been key for me in my career is looking for the opportunity in a difficult situation. A silver lining of COVID-19 was the chance it offered to exercise that muscle. It’s tested me, our team and Vonco’s business. At first, it was …

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2020 Foresight Podcast

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The 2020 Foresight Podcast is designed exclusively for CEOs of small – medium sized companies who wish to share their insights. It is six questions in six minutes because Top CEOs know how to listen and be concise.  

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MD&M West Interview 2021

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I had the privilege of being interviewed by Ed Heiland at MD&M West 2021 in August. It was great to have thought-provoking discussions about the present and future of Medical Devices. It was nice to see all the attendees that stopped to watch the interview …

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My name is Keith, welcome to my blog!

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Thank you for visiting my website. I’m so excited you’re here and I look forward to starting a dialogue, listening to your unique story, and sharing what I have to offer. To start, let me address a phrase that is near and dear to me: …

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Parkside Ranger Athletics

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Parkside Ranger Athletics Director of Athletics Andrew Gavin meets with Keith Smith of Vonco Products for this edition of Telling Our Story.

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FaB Wisconsin

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The Scaler Forum is for owners and leadership teams that no longer consider themselves a start-up and are now established with proven business models and increased sales year over year. 

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BizTimes Media

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The annual Next Generation Manufacturing Summit, presented by BizTimes Media, features an exciting interactive discussion with chief executive officers of southeastern Wisconsin companies. The CEOs will share their companies’ best operational strategies and discuss their solutions for competing in a global marketplace.