#1: Better Business, Better Life: Why Your Enterprise Should Be a Gift, Not a Prison

In this inaugural episode, Teeco Steve introduces his podcast for small to medium-sized business owners and managers. He shares his personal entrepreneurial journey, including the founding and growth of a tent rental business, and the pivotal moment when he realized business success was coming at the cost of his family relationships. Steve explains how he discovered the interconnected relationship between building a better business and living a better life, leading to the creation of an innovative tent-washing machine that became a global business. The episode establishes the podcast's core philosophy: that entrepreneurial enterprises should be gifts that enable owners to live life to the fullest.

Key Topics Covered

Personal Story & Background

• Steve's 33-year marriage to Becky and their three sons
• Starting a tent rental business from scratch in 1997
• Growing the business to nearly $1 million in three years
• The wake-up call moment with his son Andy

The Turning Point

• Working 12-15 hour days, 5-7 days a week
• Realizing business success was damaging family relationships
• The three-month reflection period with mentors and his wife
• Three options considered: grow bigger, stay the same, or exit

Business Philosophy Development

• Choosing to focus on profits over growth
• Learning that better business skills lead to better life
• The circular relationship: "Better lives for better business, better business for better lives"
• Innovation born from efficiency needs (tent-washing machine)

Transition to New Business

• Exiting tent rental to focus on manufacturing
• Becoming the #1 global provider of tent-washing machines
• 15 years of growth while maintaining life-business balance

Key Lessons for Entrepreneurs

• Learning to work differently as businesses mature
• Focusing on profitability over growth
• Recognizing personal weaknesses and hiring complementary strengths
• The importance of "inner work" and personal development