The Life & Times of a Traveling Businessman - an Interview with Mason Ludlow #116

It's a Good Life

Brian Buffini

Business, Unknown, Entrepreneurship, Life, Good, Entrepreneur, Coaching

4.4 • 2.4K Ratings

🗓️ 21 August 2018

⏱️ 45 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

“My father taught me that people could give me a bad minute of a day, but only I could give me a bad day.” — Mason Ludlow

Mason Ludlow began his career in retail as a trainee at S.S. Kresge, the company that eventually became Kmart. He quickly moved up through the ranks over his 25-year career, becoming the Director of Store Planning and Development at the height of Kmart’s retail glory. Although he loved his career—and racked up a million frequent flyer miles—he was feeling out-of-step with his family and struggled with work-life balance.

It took a journey to China to help him find balance—and himself. In this Takeover Tuesday episode, Mason shares his story with Dermot Buffini; from his Midwestern upbringing to his experience working in China to his return to the U.S. and finding a home at Buffini & Company.

He shares why teamwork is essential for building a successful business; why lasting success in the face of a changing industry hinges on checking in with your customers; and why it’s important to schedule play in your workday to be truly happy. He also shares great advice from his father that is sure to change your perspective on bad days.

Throughout his career, Mason has coached his staff to achieve more than they could on their own. If you’re ready to reach your full potential, visit buffiniandcompany.com/ccs to sign up for your complimentary coaching session.

Are you a Buffini Show Insider? What are you waiting for? Join today!

Inspirational quotes from today’s interview:

“Retail has changed dramatically and will continue to.” — Mason Ludlow

“I had to be with me. I had to be the first person to decide I was okay.” — Mason Ludlow

“I learned ‘play’ wasn’t a bad word.” — Mason Ludlow

“I knew the business, but I found me. I had been lost a long time.” — Mason Ludlow

“People is the name of the game and there are great people at Buffini.” — Mason Ludlow

“It’s about helping people do better than what they’re doing.” — Mason Ludlow

“I never did anything. WE did a lot. It never as about me.” — Mason Ludlow

“My father taught me that people could give me a bad minute of a day, but only I could give me a bad day.” — Mason Ludlow

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello and welcome to TakeOver Tuesday. I'm your host, Dermott Bafini. And as you know, once a month I take over the Bryan Bafini show.
0:24.5	And I interview people that have been there and done that. People who have achieved superior performance in different areas of life.
0:32.0	The last few takeover Tuesdays, I've brought people in who have directly influenced my life. Mentors and consultants who have helped me shape my thinking.
0:40.5	We heard a couple of podcasts ago from Greg Lucere and Greg. It was one of the top CEOs in America and we talked to him about success and leadership.
0:49.5	Our last podcast, a broad end of gentlemen who's been a great help to me, Dr. Pete Letti, who's an industrial psychologist on how to grow a company by growing its people.
0:58.5	And today I'm joined by somebody who I've had the privilege of working with for over 10 years here at Bafini Company.
1:04.5	He's been a mentor, he's a great friend, and he has influenced me greatly and our company greatly.
1:10.0	Mason Nudlow has had an incredible career. He's flown millions of miles from China to Hong Kong and all over the United States.
1:17.0	He's lived several lifetimes and he's here to share some of what he's learned along the way. Mason, welcome to the show.
1:24.0	Thank you. A lot to talk about. But just as a bit of background, obviously you've had an incredible career, mostly in the retail space.
1:30.5	And you've served everything from massive companies like Kmart and smaller organizations like Bafini Company and everything in between.
1:39.0	I want to get into some of what you've learned and what it takes to be successful as a company, as a person.
1:45.0	And also one of the things that you're really gifted at is helping other people win and how they can succeed.
1:51.0	Before we get into any of that stuff, here's what I want to do. I want to start at the beginning. Where did you grow up?
1:56.0	I grew up in Adrian, Michigan, born in Marfa, Texas, and then after World War II, we moved to Adrian, Michigan.
2:05.0	What a mom of dad do.
2:07.0	My dad was sales manager for Michigan producers, Terry. My mother was a director of nurses at Bixby Hospital in Adrian, Michigan.
2:17.0	And my mother also was a teacher and taught health occupations.
2:22.0	Interesting. And you were an only child, right?
2:25.0	I was an only child.
2:26.0	They had one kid, they got it right. They didn't need to do it again, right?
2:29.0	I don't know. Or whether they were afraid or was so bad, they were afraid.
	...

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