Oklahoma Business #7: Crowe & Dunlevy and Thoughts on Leadership in Business

Hello and Welcome Oklahoma Business Community!

I’m excited to bring you the seventh edition of the Oklahoma Business Newsletter, your go-to weekly update for the latest news, insights, and advice regarding Oklahoma’s thriving business scene. I strive to inspire, inform, and engage business leaders by spotlighting local success stories, providing expert insights, and sharing essential growth and sustainability tips.

In this issue, I’m featuring a local business I had no idea about until I found them on a “Businesses Based in Oklahoma” list. I’ll also take a break from the marketing talk to touch on an article someone I used to work with wrote about leadership and tell you about my progress regarding Techsico Information Technology.

Featured Business: Crowe & Dunlevy

Crowe & Dunlevy, founded in 1902, is the second largest and second oldest law firm in Oklahoma, with offices in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and Dallas. The firm’s expertise spans various practice areas, including business law, oil and natural gas, and litigation. In 2021, Crowe & Dunlevy was listed as the 351st largest law firm in the United States by the Law360 400 Report. In 2019, Forbes Media also recognized the firm in its inaugural list of America’s Top Law Firms as the only Oklahoma City-based firm to make the list.

The firm’s history is marked by numerous partnerships and name changes, with its founder, Swedish emigrant Charles Edward Johnson, forming the first partnership in 1903. Over the years, the firm has expanded its reach and diversified its expertise. Crowe & Dunlevy has continued to evolve by merging with other Oklahoma law firms, such as Day, Edwards, Propester & Christensen, in 2011. It has also formed alliances and joined networks like Lex Mundi, State Law Resources, and Employment Law Alliance to offer clients access to a global network of legal professionals.

Next week: Coney I-Lander

Business Advice: Thoughts on Leadership in Business

In last week’s issue, we discussed some fundamental steps for pursuing a direct marketing path. This week, we’re shifting gears to explore leadership and management in the context of organizational change. I recently came across an intriguing LinkedIn article by Sean O’Brien, whom I had the pleasure of working with a few years ago. (12) Organizational Change: Who do you think you are? Who are you, really? | LinkedIn

In his article, Sean delves into the distinctions between leadership and management, specifically in driving change within a business. He highlights the importance of having diverse archetypes within an organization to navigate change successfully. The article is particularly relevant for businesses in Oklahoma, where Sean is based, and I would like you to read it and reflect on the insights provided.

I’ve always believed that large businesses eventually falter as middle management takes control, focusing solely on maximizing efficiency at the expense of innovation. This mindset often overlooks the potential for new approaches or growth opportunities. Large and older businesses, defined here as institutionalized or those run by a small group of experienced individuals with specialized knowledge, tend to attract middle managers seeking stability.

However, both types of businesses can benefit from cutting back on middle management and identifying true leaders who can drive growth and change. As the business landscape evolves over the next two decades, many owners will retire and seek successors to take over their companies. Entire industries may emerge to address this transition and its related challenges.

With this context in mind, consider O’Brien’s insights and how they could apply to your situation. Imagine acquiring a business from a retiring owner and leveraging your leadership skills or appointing a new leader to revitalize the company. The former owner, who transitioned from a leader to a manager during his tenure, which I believe is a natural path for most business owners, has valuable knowledge and skills that must be transferred to ensure the business’s continued success.

Sean’s article resonated with me on several levels, including how my experiences from a decade ago might have been different with a better understanding of these concepts as my grandfather wanted to see his business grow but also wanted to take some time to enjoy the fruits of his labor. It’s essential to recognize the importance of leadership and management in driving change and seizing new opportunities within a business. As we move forward, let’s keep these insights in mind to create a more dynamic and prosperous future.

What I’ve Been Doing

More sleepless nights this last week as I continued to put things in place and finish what I could, which are systems setups, servers, and so much more. I’m happy to report that I did get the book I talked about last week published. I will not share it yet as I published it without thorough editing as the goal was to get it out there without wasting months and months anguishing over the way this or that was said. If you are interested in reading it to provide feedback, please let me know, or even if you would like to have a read just for a chuckle before I update it with corrections, I’ll still send you the link as well, but you gotta pay full price for that ??.

As before, over the coming weeks and months, you will see some significant changes happening on my website https://techsico.it/ as I build the infrastructure necessary to support a Direct Response Marketing Method.

Regarding this newsletter, I was using the “we” in several places, hoping that it would connect with “you,” the reader, better, but during the limited editing advice I got on my book, I was told that it is not as effective as I thought. Honestly, after further reflection, I knew that was true.

No Homework This Week!

In last week's issue, I did give a few tasks you can follow, and I’ll bring that back next week when I get back to the Marketing Plan!

Thanks for reading! I look forward to future editions and bringing you the best value as we talk about one of my favorite topics and explore the diverse business landscape of Oklahoma together.

Warm regards,

Spencer Heckathorn

Techsico Information Technology LLC.,

https://techsico.it/

Post Publish Edit: I added a link to Sean's article and updated the heading title to match what I wrote in the section. 5/15/2023 -Spencer