Stop Thinking Like a Manager when You're an Owner – Emily Isbell

In this episode of Home Care Hindsight, host David Knack sits down with Emily Isbell, founder of EI and Company, to discuss her impressive journey from caregiver at 19 to a successful home care consultant and bestselling author.

They talk about Emily's early career, the evolution of her business, and the release of her book, 'The 24/7 Solution.' Emily shares valuable insights on correcting mistakes, the importance of consistently executing strategies, and the necessity of looking for talent within your existing workforce. They also explore the challenges of maintaining emotional maturity in a high-stakes industry like home care.

Lesson Takeaways:

1. When mistakes happen, own them, apologize, and work to make things right rather than focusing on defending your actions.

2. Stick to your systems and execute consistently, even when challenges arise. This is essential for long-term success.

3. Look for leadership potential in your caregivers. With the right mentorship, they can become powerful contributors to your business.

4. Base your decisions on hard data, not emotional reactions, to ensure sustainable growth and success.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction to Emily Isbell and her home care journey

04:29 - Emily's "What if?" career: Owning a gym for competitive gymnastics

07:34 - The cigarette mistake: A cringe-worthy moment from Emily's caregiving days

13:00 - Emily's key takeaway: "It's about making right, not being right"

16:37 - The importance of consistent execution in the home care industry

25:00 - Promoting from within: Emily's philosophy on caregiver development

34:31 - Big vs. small mistakes: Thinking like an owner, not a manager

40:41 - Emily's win of the week: Growing client businesses by 60% in six months

Quotes:

Emily Isbell: "It's not about being right; it's about making right. That's how you build trust in this industry."

David Knack: "An urgent problem in home care is also an important one, which makes it crucial to respond with emotional maturity."

Emily Isbell: "I would not be here today if someone hadn't believed in promoting caregivers from within."

Emily Isbell: "Data over dopamine—that's how we keep the business growing without being reactive to every little challenge."

Resources:

1. Emily Isbell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyisbellcofounder/

2. Emily's Book: The 24/7 Solution: Proven Strategies for Home Care Business Leaders: https://www.amazon.com/24-Solution-Strategies-Business-Leaders/dp/B0D35QD7HT

3. EI and Company: https://emilyisbellco.com/

4. EI and Company on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emilyisbellco/about/

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