(Part 2) How I Stopped Chasing Success and Focused on Finding Fulfillment Instead — Jesse Walters

In Part 2, David and Jesse get into the leadership lessons that shape a home care business long before they show up on a spreadsheet. They discuss why staffing managers and schedulers are among the most undervalued people in the industry, how connecting them directly with clients and referral partners can improve care and business development, and why sales, staffing, and client care need to understand one another's challenges.

The conversation then moves into a bigger question: What should a business actually be for? Jesse shares his philosophy that Hillendale Home Care should be a vehicle for people to grow into better, more capable versions of themselves. From the six human needs discussed by Tony Robbins to the Hero's Journey popularized by Joseph Campbell, they explore how leaders can create meaningful work, challenge their teams, and build a culture where talented people want to stay.

Jesse also opens up about finding fulfillment in developing others, drawing on his experience as a wrestler and coach. The conversation takes a literary detour into books, including Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Walden, and Theo of Golden, as David and Jesse reflect on presence, family, and the importance of slowing down enough to appreciate life outside work.

Finally, Jesse shares what he's proud of at Hillendale, including the launch of new locations in Marin County and Monterey County, and gives shout-outs to two people he believes deserve more recognition in home care: Cash Edwards of Greenstaff Home Care and Daniel Stringer.

Lesson Takeaways:

1. Bring staffing managers closer to the people they serve. Schedulers and staffing managers do more than fill shifts. When they understand clients' needs, meet caregivers, and build relationships with referral partners, they can make better matches, improve care, and help drive business growth.

2. Treat mistakes as opportunities to learn, not reasons to blame. When something goes wrong, leaders should focus on understanding the situation, supporting the people involved, and preventing the same mistake from happening repeatedly. A team's response to a problem can strengthen relationships rather than damage them.

3. Build a culture where people can grow beyond their current roles. Great leaders challenge employees, expand their capabilities, and help them become more valuable and confident. Instead of making the business revolve around the owner, create an organization that serves as a vehicle for the growth and development of its people.

4. Create meaningful work and make room for presence. People want stability, variety, significance, connection, growth, and the opportunity to contribute. Leaders who understand these needs can build stronger teams while remembering that personal fulfillment also comes from being present with family, appreciating others, and enjoying life beyond professional accomplishments.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

01:46 – Why staffing managers and schedulers are undervalued in home care

05:49 – How staffing, client care, and sales work together to build trust and grow the business

09:11 – How to turn staffing mistakes into opportunities to strengthen relationships

17:03 – The Hero's Journey and why a business should help its people grow

28:14 – Books, personal growth, and the importance of being present

32:02 – Hillendale's new locations and Jesse's recommendations for people to know in home care

Resources:

1. Connect with Jesse Walters on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessewalters/

2. Learn more about Hillendale Home Care: https://hillendalehomecare.com/

3. Cash Edwards: Home care professional at Greenstaff Home Care

4. Daniel Stringer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieltstringer

5. Connect with David Knack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-knack/

6. Connect with Zingage on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zingage/

7. Powered by Zingage: https://zingage.com/

8. Watch Episode on Zingage's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zingage

Books and Literary Works Mentioned:

1. Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard: https://a.co/d/0aMmmDE8

2. Walden by Henry David Thoreau: https://a.co/d/0cUaC8ri

3. Theo of Golden by Allen Levi: https://a.co/d/0iMOjEeg

4. Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy: https://a.co/d/08m6WODs

5. No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy: https://a.co/d/0eTo36dg

6. The Road by Cormac McCarthy: https://a.co/d/0cwSbEFu