Retention Stems From Appreciation with Josh Cox

The Intentional Agribusiness Leader Podcast

Josh has been involved in agriculture since he was a kid. Growing up in a family who farmed walnuts left him with a knowledge of the industry. Josh has a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture Business from California State University, Fresno and has over ten years of experience in the agriculture chemical industry. Josh, as co-owner and CEO of LMG Ag Products, spends his days doing a bit of everything. But his favorite responsibility is product procurement and negotiations. When outside of work Josh enjoys spending time with his wife, son & daughter, working on his health, reading, and serving in his community.

In this enlightening episode of the Intentional Agribusiness Leader podcast, host Mark delves deep into the secrets of success with the inspirational Josh Cox. Josh shares his entrepreneurial journey, how he drives his team towards excellence, and the profound impact of intentionality in business leadership.

From the outset, Josh emphasizes the importance of waking up with purpose each day, a trait that transcends the confines of mere weekdays. He draws comparisons to setting a thermostat, illustrating how operating at a higher 'temperature' means striving for more, something that he and his dedicated team understand well. Josh candidly dispels the idea of comfort zones, encouraging others to push beyond the conventional to achieve growth.

The discussion branches out into strategies for retaining talented employees. Josh underlines the significance of making team members feel appreciated, and how it has become a cornerstone of his corporate culture. The pair then dissect the critical concept of vulnerability and how owning up to mistakes and learning from them forms a stronger bond among team members.

Key Takeaways:

• Intentionality involves setting a higher standard for oneself, akin to having a 'thermostat' set above the average, to push for growth and excellence.
• Employee retention is bolstered by appreciation, and fostering a culture where everyone feels valued and driven towards personal and professional development.
• Vulnerability and owning mistakes are pivotal for building a healthy, respectful workplace culture where everyone is encouraged to grow and improve.
• Josh credits part of his success to seizing opportunities, continuous learning through reading, and maintaining a strong work ethic.
• Even for a successful entrepreneur like Josh, there's an emphasis on improving, specifically working more on the business rather than in it.

Notable Quotes:

• "Intentional. You dive into, what does that mean? It's waking up every day with a purpose..."
• "...to be able to retain people and do it successfully is to make them feel appreciated..."
• "...listen to the critique... My door is always open."
• "...create some separation from your competition, and to be able to do that, you've got to be turned up to that 90 plus."
• "I couldn't tell you how many draft emails I have in my outbox... that I type and I'm not going to send that because they need to handle it on their own."

Resources:

The guest and host discuss several books that have influenced Josh Cox's entrepreneurial journey, including:

• "Rich Dad Poor Dad" by Robert Kiyosaki
• "Can't Hurt Me" by David Goggins
• "The 10X Rule" by Grant Cardone

Encourage yourself to dive into these reads as they offer insights into success, resilience, and elevating one's ambitions.

Tune into this podcast episode to gain deeper insights into leading with intentionality, driving a high-performing team, and continuously learning and growing both personally and professionally. Don't miss out on the valuable lessons shared by Josh Cox, and stay tuned for more dynamic episodes from the Intentional Agribusiness Leader series.