Скачать или смотреть "Building a Business That Actually Matters" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 050

In this episode of The Fast Slow Motion Podcast, host Sam Donaghey and FSM CEO John Burdett sit down with Mike Beckham, co-founder and CEO of ‪@SimpleModern‬ to unpack why great companies aren’t built as ATM machines—but as influence machines that shape people, culture, and community.

You’ll learn how Mike built Simple Modern on generosity, excellence, and purpose, how he hires for values over credentials, and why culture can actually get stronger as a company scales. Mike also breaks down Simple Modern’s unique approach to giving, employee ownership, and long-term thinking—and why pairing conviction with execution is the key to sustainable growth.

If you want practical ways to build a business that stays true to its values while scaling, this episode is for you.

To contact Fast Slow Motion, visit https://loom.ly/zuLUKk8.

#leadership #companyculture #businessgrowth #entrepreneurship #scalingbusiness #simplemodern #purpose #valuesdrivenleadership

📺 CHAPTERS:

0:00 – Why Businesses Should Be “Influence Machines”
1:15 – Meet Mike Beckham & Simple Modern
2:07 – From Ministry to Entrepreneurship: Mike’s Unusual Path
3:40 – Purpose Before Product: Why Simple Modern Started With “Why”
5:18 – People Over Profit: Building a Company You Enjoy Working In
6:26 – Quality of Life, Values, and the Power of the Right People
8:00 – Generosity at Scale: Simple Modern’s Core Experiment
9:14 – Why Giving More Created More to Give
10:39 – Excellence + Generosity: Why They Must Go Together
12:05 – How Simple Modern Funds Its Mission Through Great Products
13:18 – Starting With Generosity Before You Have Abundance
14:32 – Giving Done Right: Avoiding Harmful Charity
15:46 – Building a Culture of Discernment in Generosity
17:03 – How Simple Modern’s Giving Committee Works
18:30 – Why the Company Doesn't Lead With Faith-Based Giving
19:53 – The Five Impact Areas They Focus On
21:00 – Moving More Giving Local
22:11 – Employee-Directed Giving & Ownership
23:25 – “We’re Not a Perfect Company… But a Sincere One”
24:44 – Non-Financial Generosity: Time, Skills, and Influence
26:00 – Applying Faith in a Way That Unifies, Not Divides
27:14 – Has Scaling Ever Pressured Mike to Compromise Values?
28:46 – Why Culture Doesn’t Have to Degrade as You Grow
30:18 – Onboarding: Why Every New Hire Gets 90 Minutes With Mike
31:40 – Culture as a Garden: Why Everyone Must “Pick the Weeds”
33:02 – Diversity + Shared Values: The Winning Combination
34:38 – What You Tolerate Is Your Culture
36:04 – Hiring for Fit vs. “Best Available” Talent
37:25 – Why Great Players Fail Without the Right Team Fit
38:57 – How Simple Modern Makes Slow, Discernment-Based Hires
40:12 – The Characteristics Mike Screens For (Excellence, Curiosity, Character)
41:40 – Why Most of Their Best People Were Referred In
43:06 – Why Intentional Hiring Prevents Nearly All Turnover
44:23 – Setting Expectations: Why Mike Tries to Talk People Out of Joining
46:00 – Why Hard Feedback Lands Better When You Set Prior Expectations
47:18 – Becoming an ESOP: Why Simple Modern Chose Employee Ownership
48:49 – Long-Term Thinking and Psychological Safety
50:04 – How Ownership Helps People Think Like Owners
51:22 – The Story of Megan: Breaking Generational Poverty
52:10 – Winning on the Right Scoreboard
53:26 – Closing Advice: “Be in the Arena”
54:04 – Wrap-Up & Where to Learn More About Simple Modern