Special Episode: The Whole Thing with Lauren Dixon

Welcome back to The Main Thing Podcast! I'm your host Skip Lineberg. Our special guest is someone I greatly admire. She's someone with whom I've done business for several years. You heard her essential wisdom in Ep. 49, our standard nine-minute show. Today you will get The Whole Thing. This is a less edited, more organic version of my intriguing and wisdom-packed conversation with Lauren. Get ready for more stories, more laughs and more riffs on building a great company culture. Bio (in case you missed Ep. 49) Lauren Dixon began her career as a news broadcaster and still considers herself a storyteller. Since founding Dixon Schwabl Advertising 30+ years ago, she has led by inspiration and example. Always accessible to clients, Lauren is a hands-on executive dedicated to fostering a great workplace culture that enables people to do their best. Under her leadership, DS has  landed on the Great Place to Work® list for 15 consecutive years and won national recognition from Fortune magazine as the nation's #1 place to work in advertising and marketing. Lauren comes to us today from Canandiagua, New York.   Resources Learn more about Dixon Schwabl Advertising Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn   Credits Editor and Technical Advisor Bob Hotchkiss Graphic Designer Emma Malinoski Brand and Strategy Advisor Andy Malinoski   Want to Help Support the Growth of this Podcast? Become a subscriber. Share the podcast with one or two friends. Follow us on social media @TheMainThingPod Buy some Main Thing Merch from our Merchandise Store. Become a patron of the show and consider supporting us on Patreon with a nominal, goodwill monetary donation. Buy a book from our Book Shop - see below. Our Book Shop Enjoy books authored or recommended by guests of The Main Thing Podcast - here. Content in This Podcast [1:30] - How it feels to pull back from her primary #leadership role [1:50] - How her company helped me get started as a #podcaster [3:20] - A look inside the award-winning #culture at Dixon Schwabl Advertising [4:00] - A time when they had to fire a client [4:30] - Don't settle for a crummy culture [4:44] - Why employees leave companies [5:30] - How a poor work experience inspired #corevalues of Dixon Schwabl [6:35] - Lauren introduces us to Positive Patty and Negative Nancy [6:55] - Selecting people to fit your culture and values #hiring #teamwork [8:22] - Community #arts project that remains a source of #pride for Lauren [11:40] - Tough choices: Lauren's favorite aspect of the advertising business [12:35] - Sustaining a great culture and a #greatplacetowork is not a "one & done" [13:55] - The best advice Lauren got from her dad [14:50] - Lauren's advice for new grads and young professionals #dabble [16:25] - Lightning Round - quirky questions and lots of laughs, brought to you by @PodDecks [poddecks.com]            [17:10] - Bora Bora           [17:20] - Fluffernutter sandwich           [18:40] - #UnitedWay [19:20] - Farewell #hackingwisdom