P&L: Priorities & Lifestyle Episode 94

Leaving Corporate Politics for the Recycling Business with Tim Haugh

This week on P&L, I’m joined by Tim Haugh, the founder and president of Evergreen Companies. This episode dives into Tim’s fascinating leap from a comfortable corporate career into entrepreneurship - a jump he made not because he was fired, but because he was offered a promotion he didn't want.

Tim shares the story of how a lucky dinner conversation led to the founding of his recycling business, how his team pushed him to expand from paper to plastics, and how he navigates the volatile commodity markets without losing sleep. We also explore the unique dynamics of running a family business, the boundaries he and his wife set to keep work at work, and how implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) allowed him to manage less and lead more.

Tune in this week on P&L to learn what it takes to build a thriving business, cultivate an incredible company culture, and transition into the "owner's box."

Contact Tim at tim.haugh@evergreen-recycling.com.

"I didn't wanna sit in meetings all day. I wanted to do stuff... so I started looking to do something on my own." — Tim Haugh

This week on Priorities & Lifestyle:

Leaving the Corporate Ladder: Why getting a major promotion was the exact catalyst Tim needed to start his own business.
The "Accidental" Family Business: Navigating the transition of bringing four adult children into a company they were originally told they wouldn't work for.
Navigating Volatile Markets: Tim's philosophy on managing inventory and avoiding the speculation trap in the recycling commodities market.
Managing Less, Leading More: How implementing EOS over the last 15 years helped Tim step out of the daily weeds and shift his focus to high-level leadership.
Setting Family Boundaries: The crucial rule of leaving business talk away from the family dinner table.

Our Favorite Quotes:

"The lesson is always listen to your people because they have good ideas." — Tim Haugh
"Common wisdom is that the number one thing that puts businesses out of business is lack of cash. And I like to say the number two thing is lack of communication." — Tim Haugh
"We let them make decisions, we let them make mistakes. And I don't really mind a mistake. I prefer a mistake than a lack of action." — Tim Haugh

About Rob Schulz and P&L Priorities & Lifestyle Podcast

The P&L: Priorities & Lifestyle Podcast is a show for business owners. In each episode, host and financial planner Rob Schulz sits down with business owners and the professionals that serve them to talk about business building, life, money, and the all-important transition out of the business, which inevitably happens to everyone who has ever founded a company.