Joe Slawek, Chairman & CEO at Slawek Family Holdings, Episode 214
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After a distinguished career at Food Materials Corporation, Joe Slawek saw an opportunity to develop a new kind of flavor company. He founded FONA International in 1987 on this desire to be both high-tech and high-touch. In 1999, Joe was inducted into the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame in recognition of his established unique corporate culture and the dramatic year-over-year growth it was driving −five times the industry standard. In 2011, Joe was honored with the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of The Year® award for Manufacturing in the Midwest. Joe is now the former CEO and Chairman of FONA’s Board of Directors and now leads focused efforts for the Slawek Family Business Office. Joe is also a published author of “Success: 10 Best Practices for Business and Life” and “Life's 4th Quarter”.
We’re delighted to have Joe on the podcast this week to discuss his career trajectory and where he got his entrepreneurial drive. He shares how FONA differentiated themselves from the bigger companies in their industry by providing great customer service and quick turnaround times. We also dig into the principles of culture and faithfulness in leadership and why he felt called to share his wisdom in his most recent book “Life's 4th Quarter”.
“There's something pure about giving to somebody that you're never going to meet.” - Joe Slawek
“Being generative means seeding for that next generation.” - Joe Slawek
“I think I properly invested God's money in the way that He would want me to.” - Joe Slawek
This Week on The Wow Factor:
Joe discusses his work ethic and how it was instilled in him from a young age, starting with part-time jobs and continuing through college
When Joe figured out the purpose of work and why he loved that feeling of autonomy and independence so much
The trajectory-changing, turning point in Joe’s life when his mother passed away suddenly in her early forties
Why Joe was attracted to sales as a career and how he managed to get his foot in the door before he even left college
How to handle the situation gracefully when you’re dealing with professional envy
Why Joe decided to leave his job and take an 80% pay cut to start his own company
Some of the inspirational mentors Joe has had along his journey
The importance of taking real steps to make a business idea happen rather than just talking about it
Why they rebranded as FONA, and the company’s core values
Joe shares more about the church service that led him to a deeper interest in the Bible and his faith
How Joe came up with the idea of doubling the company’s growth every four years or the two-by-four principle
Joe Slawek’s Words of Wisdom:
Whoever sows generously will reap generously. Each of you should give what you've decided to give and in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver, and God can bless you abundantly so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
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