Avsnitt
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Every business leader inevitably hits a wall where the daily grind transitions from an exciting problem-solving puzzle into an exhausting, endless game of operational whack-a-mole. In Episode 85, Chad (Loc-Doc Security), Tony (Assured Security), and Lars (Calgary Lock & Safe) get incredibly candid about the peaks, valleys, and hidden physiological tolls of maintaining motivation at the midway point of the year.
Tony shares how structured personal resets—like his weekly Thursday golf sessions and stepping entirely away from communication channels during the birth of his daughter—are critical to protecting executive longevity. Chad outlines a tactical shift toward gamifying daily workflows to keep younger technicians motivated through immediate feedback rather than relying on abstract ten-year corporate goals. Meanwhile, Lars details how hyper-distraction via smart devices strips away active attention and why leaving your phone at home can completely restore mental clarity. Plus, the guys break down a major milestone announcement: the soft launch of a highly exclusive, peer-led event framework—the Unlocked Invitational.
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If you want to expand your locksmith business into the hollow metal door and frame market. In Episode 84, Tony Hokanson (Assured Security) takes the steering wheel to break down a listener question from Adam Smith regarding vertical trade integration, managing the extreme hidden risks of retrofitting, and scaling into adjacent security segments without diluting your focus.
Chad Lingafelt (Loc-Doc Security) and Lars Johnston (Calgary Lock & Safe) get incredibly transparent about their most expensive, painful historical learning experiences. They pull apart the operational reality of handling heavy structural steel block cutouts, the massive importance of selecting an internal product "champion," and how Chad managed to skyrocket his business from $2.5m to $8m+ by methodically prioritizing a standardized commercial hardware specification playbook over ad-hoc "whimsical" branching.
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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Technical Issues prevented an episode release this week. We have it resolved, until next time. We will be back next Thursday!
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Where is the locksmith and physical security integration industry heading over the next 3 to 5 years? In Episode 83, Chad (Loc-Doc Security), Lars (Calgary Lock & Safe), and Tony (Assured Security) bypass the day-to-day operational whirlwind to map out the long-term macroeconomic trends, technological disruptions, and personnel changes heading straight for security business owners.
Fresh off a structured corporate training exercise with their executive peer groups, the guys present a raw look at their top personal business opportunities and challenges. Tony details the massive wave of retiring baby-boomer business owners and how to position your company to execute clean, value-driven acquisitions. Chad throws a curveball by introducing the logistics of subscription plans and recurring maintenance retainers for traditional, non-electronic mechanical door hardware. Meanwhile, Lars dives deep into geopolitical risk patterns, rising tariff structures, and the inevitable squeeze hitting the distribution layer. Finally, the trio tackles the silent killer of front-office productivity: the context-switching trap of modern digital distractions.
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When a security integration or locksmith business begins to scale geographically, leadership faces a massive, existential structural hurdle: Do you structure your new locations under autonomous branch managers, or do you organize by centralized product divisions (locksmithing, electronic security, and hollow metal doors)?
In Episode 82, Tony Hawkinson (Assured Security) takes the host seat to grill Chad Lingafelt (Loc-Doc Security) and Lars Johnston (Calgary Lock & Safe) on the precise operational friction points of managing distributed teams. The trio breaks down the mechanics of a formal Shared Services Model—centralizing bookkeeping, inventory procurement, and IT at headquarters while maintaining lean, highly agile local branch operations. Lars shares his real-world experience balancing corporate overhead across locations with a 5X revenue disparity, and Chad warns against a massive expansion blind spot: slow-rolling the elimination of legacy, low-margin service lines.
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Are the trades facing a structural recruitment crisis, or are we just terrible at telling our story? In Episode 81, Chad (Loc-Doc Security), Tony (Assured Security), and Lars (Calgary Lock & Safe) break down the historical social status gap between university degrees and modern craftsmanship.
Lars challenges the trio with John Gardner’s classic warning: a society that scorns plumbing because it's a humble activity will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy. Chad shares a pivotal baseline shift from his days as a field technician that led Loc-Doc Security to completely ditch standard t-shirts for formal button-down corporate uniforms to alter market perception. The guys analyze the hidden pitfalls of a $150,000 college debt trap, the human psychology of task fulfillment over digital exhaustion, and why standard locksmith businesses must inject a white-collar aesthetic to capture high-performing talent.
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In Episode 80, Chad (Loc-Doc Security), Lars (Calgary Lock & Safe), and Tony (Assured Security) dive into a fascinating Harvard Business Review article examining what operating rooms can teach business leaders about team design.
The trio discusses a truth that hits close to home for physical security integration companies: despite massive investments in advanced technology, data tracking, and fancy software platforms, performance baseline consistency ultimately hinges on human team design and composition—not your tech tools. Lars brings his academic background in genetics to pitch a radical theory on why introducing calculated variation into established "lone wolf" technician teams sparks massive cross-pollinated innovation. Meanwhile, Chad and Tony square off over building structured, complementary internal units vs. letting team dynamics organically happen. If you are trying to scale your personnel past the groupthink ceiling, this operational breakdown delivers pure leadership gold.
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As physical security companies scale, regional expansion is often the ultimate growth engine—and the ultimate culture killer. In Episode 79, the Unlocked trio—Lars Johnston (Calgary Lock & Safe), Tony Hokanson (Assured Security), and Chad Lingafelt (Loc-Doc Security)—tackle the tactical friction of geographic scale .
Fresh off a cross-border training event, Tony puts the guys in the hot seat to discuss how to project foundational beliefs across branches that sit hundreds of miles away . Lars shares his real-world "acquisition scars" from absorbing an existing team in Edmonton, outlining why leaders must prepare for cultural turnover when standardizing a local operation . Chad details his high-tech "virtualized conference room" framework that forces satellite locations to actively engage rather than passively observe corporate huddles . From sensory branding hacks to empowering branch managers to carry the operational torch, this episode outlines how to build a unified footprint without diluting your signature standards
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We are officially a quarter into 2026, and it’s time for the Unlocked trio to stop talking and start walking. In Episode 78, Lars Johnston (Calgary Lock & Safe), Tony Hawkenson (Assured Security), and Chad Lingafelt (Loc-Doc Security) revisit the ambitious goals they set in January to see what’s actually sticking.
The conversation gets real as Chad describes the "brain transplant" of rolling out a proprietary software across 50+ employees and the leadership diplomacy required when systems break. Tony reveals his "North Star" goal of scaling to 100 technicians and how that single metric has completely changed his decision-making process for Q2. Meanwhile, Lars explores the tension between building rigid routines and maintaining the innovative creativity that drives growth. From targeted email marketing to the "screen test" for deleting inefficient processes, this episode is a blueprint for mid-year course correction.
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Fresh off a sales training in North Carolina, Chad (Loc-Doc Security), Tony (Assured Security), and Lars (Calgary Lock & Safe) tackle their most technical "homework" assignment yet: Process Mapping.
Inspired by Elon Musk’s "Five-Step Process" and the realization that many security businesses are "built around the edge case," the trio discusses how to visualize the invisible workflows that are draining their profitability. From Lars’s "horrifying" discovery of a loose email-quote process to Chad’s radical use of Meta smart glasses and AI to time-code technician efficiency, this episode is a masterclass in operational hygiene. Learn why "everyone being responsible" means nobody is responsible, and how to stop optimizing processes that shouldn't even exist.
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In Episode 76, Tony (Assured Security), Lars (Calgary Lock & Safe), and Chad (Loc-Doc Security) step outside the security industry to examine what the world’s most successful brands can teach us about growth and operations. From the rigid, fat-marbling precision of The Keg’s steak-grilling process to Raising Cane’s relentless focus on the "chicken finger specialist" model, the trio discusses how to turn complex services into repeatable habits.
The conversation dives deep into Uber’s frictionless payment model, Elevation Church’s multi-campus brand consistency, and the rural market dominance of Casey’s General Store. If you've ever wondered how to make your locksmith company feel less like a "break-fix" chore and more like a high-end experience, this episode provides the blueprint for borrowing brilliance from other industries.
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In Episode 75, the Unlocked trio—Lars Johnston from Calgary Lock & Safe, Tony Hokanson from Assured Security, and Chad Lingafelt from Loc-Doc Security—break down the literal architecture of their businesses. Moving past high-level philosophy, they dive into the tactical "how-to" of departmental structure, reporting lines, and the common pitfalls of scaling past 25 employees.
Lars challenges the group to discuss why "gross revenue is vanity, but structure is what keeps it". They explore the evolution from a "comb" structure where everyone reports to the owner, to creating specialized micro-teams with mid-level managers. Whether you are deciding if your electronics techs should cut their own strikes or figuring out why you have high turnover in a "unicorn" dispatch role, this episode provides a blueprint for building a business that regresses to a solid structure rather than falling into chaos.
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In Episode 74, the Unlocked trio—Chad (Loc-Doc Security), Tony (Assured Security), and Lars (Calgary Lock & Safe)—engage in a high-stakes debate over the future of security sales. Fresh off a trip to Las Vegas for ISC West, Chad proposes a radical shift: abandoning the generalist model in favor of "micro-business centers" where salespeople specialize in single disciplines like video, access control, or doors and frames.
Tony pushes back hard, arguing that specialization can alienate customers who want a single point of contact and may lead to missed cross-selling opportunities. The guys explore the psychology of "Hunters vs. Gatherers," how to reduce salesperson training time from one year to one month, and why the "one-stop-shop" model might be harder to scale than you think. Whether you're a "guy in a van" or managing a multi-million dollar sales team, this episode will challenge how you view your go-to-market strategy.
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In Episode 73, Tony (Assured Security), Lars (Calgary Lock & Safe), and Chad (Loc-Doc Security) tackle the challenge of growing organically by capturing large-scale projects. The trio explores tactical ways to move beyond basic break-fix service calls and into the world of $50,000+ contracts.
Chad reveals the "Association Strategy," explaining why trade associations are the key to finding ideal customers where they actually hang out. Lars shares his "Skywalker" approach to dominating a downtown commercial core by building deep relationships with property managers. The episode culminates in a heated debate over the future of sales: Is it better to have a team of specialists laser-focused on one product line, or generalists who can sell the entire "one-stop-shop" model?.
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In Episode 72, the Unlocked trio—Tony (Assured Security), Lars (Calgary Lock & Safe), and Chad (Loc-Doc Security)—dive into the psychology of decision-making. Inspired by the work of Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman and sage advice from "Uncle Glenn," they explore System 1 (Fast/Habitual) and System 2 (Slow/Analytical) thinking.
The guys discuss how to use "Level 2" brainpower to architect "Level 1" processes that run on autopilot, freeing up mental energy for high-stakes strategy. From Chad’s self-driving car reducing commute fatigue to Tony’s specialized pinning stations that eliminate technical guesswork, this episode is a masterclass in building a business that "rhymes with sufficiency". Whether you're fighting decision fatigue or trying to scale technician training beyond "osmosis," learn how to stop reacting and start orchestrating your business operations.
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In Episode 71, Chad (Loc-Doc Security), Tony (Assured Security), and Lars (Calgary Lock & Safe) dive into the psychological and operational warfare of "The Messy Middle." Inspired by Scott Belsky’s framework, the trio explores the volatile space between the dopamine-heavy start of a project and the satisfaction of the finish line.
The conversation gets tactical as they discuss how to distinguish a "false positive"—like a lucky $1.2 million contract—from a truly scalable system. They also tackle the "Burden of Excellence," discussing how to protect your A-players from being punished with more work while C-players coast. From moving toward flat-rate "per door" pricing to reconcile the ego of no longer being the "fixer" in your own company, this episode is a guide for any leader currently in the thick of scaling.
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Buckle up for Episode 70, where the trio takes on an Instagram-inspired "Blind Rank" challenge that nearly breaks the podcast. Tony (Assured Security) forces Lars (Calgary Lock & Safe) and Chad (Loc-Doc Security) to rank a list of 12 business and philosophy books without knowing which title is coming next.
The result is a chaotic, high-stakes debate over the industry's most influential texts. From the "broccoli" of 4 Disciplines of Execution to the transformational power of Turn the Ship Around, the guys break down why certain books are foundational for new owners while others are designed for high-level strategic pivots. Whether you’re looking for a people management manual like Radical Candor or a "Bible of Capitalism" like Atlas Shrugged, this episode serves as your ultimate 2026 reading list. Plus, an intro from the "prehistoric" day-one listener, Ken Kupperman.
Full Book List:
https://www.unlockedpodcast.com/post/12-must-read-books-for-scaling-leaders-episode-70
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As we move through the first quarter of 2026, the Unlocked trio—Chad from Loc-Doc Security, Tony from Assured Security, and Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe—flip the script on traditional goal setting. Instead of focusing on what to add to their lives, they dive deep into what they need to quit.
The conversation gets raw as Lars opens up about the danger of "ruminating" on past mistakes and his journey toward finding a partner and prioritizing health. Tony discusses the "nice vs. kind" paradox, committing to stop seeking consensus at the expense of doing what's right for the business. Chad reveals his radical approach to reclaiming focus by locking his phone down for 19 hours a day. From battling the "amygdala's" loud voice to ending the cycle of vague priorities, this episode is a blueprint for simplifying your life to amplify your results.
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In Episode 68, the Unlocked trio—Chad from Loc-Doc Security, Tony from Assured Security, and Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe—tackle the most important asset any company owns: its culture. They dive deep into why culture isn't just a "vibe" but a set of sacred standards that must be protected with aggressive consistency.
Chad shares the "Dabo Swinney" inspired strategy of an Annual Reset, where every employee—from the 20-year veteran to the rookie—re-onboards each January to ensure no one is operating on a diluted version of the company mission. Tony discusses the process of simplifying core values to make them actually actionable, while Lars explains the power of the "Emotional Piggy Bank" and why leaders must be visible in the weeds to maintain credibility. If you’ve ever felt your company culture slipping as you grow past 15 employees, this episode provides the blueprint for "re-boarding" your team and holding the line on excellence.
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In Episode 67, the trio tackles one of the most critical challenges for any entrepreneur: moving from a reactive "firefighting" mindset to proactive leadership. Tony (Assured Security) kicks things off by operating from a backup computer with no passwords and slow internet—a real-time lesson in why systems matter when things go sideways.
Lars (Calgary Lock & Safe) pulls back the curtain on his recent transformation, explaining why he has replaced "motivation" (which is emotional and unreliable) with "patterns and consistency." He shares his rigid 5:00 a.m. routine and his non-negotiable "Tuesday Think Time." Chad (Loc-Doc Security) joins the deep dive by discussing the "Five Thieves of Time" and how he uses device downtime and public calendar visibility to protect his "impact zone." If you feel like your calendar owns you rather than the other way around, this episode provides the tactical blueprint to take it back.
- Visa fler
