The Journey to CEO with Dustin Hillis: Episode 309 of The Action Catalyst Podcast - a podcast by Dan Moore and Dustin Hillis

As Chief Executive Officer, Dustin Hillis is leading the vision and strategy to make Southwestern Family of Companies the largest and most impactful privately-owned company worldwide by 2048. Under his leadership, the company has grown from 19 to 30 businesses and is well on its way to reaching the aggressive goal of more than 200 businesses in less than 30 years.







In addition to being CEO of Southwestern Family of Companies, Hillis is a Co-Founder of Southwestern Consulting, a sales and leadership coaching, keynote speaking and personal empowerment firm that helps clients around the world drive sales performance through the use of time-tested principles and proven methodologies. He remains the head of Southwestern Coaching. With more than 100 fully dedicated Southwestern Consulting Certified Coaches operating in seven countries, the business has helped over 10,000 clients grow their incomes by more than 25 percent on average. The coaching business grew at 60 percent per year for the last 8 years before Hillis took on the role of CEO of Southwestern Family of Companies.







As a junior at the University of Tennessee, Hillis broke the more than 160-year-old, all-time sales record for Southwestern Advantage, making a profit of more than $100,000 in 14 weeks. That sales record still stands today. With a degree in psychology and experience knocking on thousands of doors, Hillis is an expert in buying, selling, management behavior and how to adapt to the way people want to be communicated with.







Hillis is the co-author of Navigate 2.0: Selling the Way People Like to Buy, and the co-creator of the sales training curriculum Top Producer’s Edge, Manager’s Edge, and Executive Edge. His latest project, Redefining Possible (co-authored with Ron Alford), is set to release in September 2020.







Dustin Hillis has traveled the world to deliver keynote speeches in multiple countries including Singapore, Scotland, London, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Peru, Columbia, Canada, and all across the United States. He is a regular guest teacher covering the Cycle of the Sale for business students at Vanderbilt University.







In 2019, Hillis was named to Nashville Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list. He’s a frequent guest on podcasts and has been featured in a variety of media outlets such as Entrepreneur magazine, Fortune magazine, The Dave Ramsey Show and Entrepreneurs on Fire podcast to name a few. Hillis is saved by grace and passionate about helping people break down barriers and coaching them to reach their God-given potential.







Show Highlights







One thing that makes Southwestern Family of Companies different is that we put our principles before our personalities. —Dustin HillisBeing coachable and following a process are skill sets. —Dustin HillisA great leader is a great recruiter. —Dustin HillisThe level of problem-solving is much more significant as a CEO. —Dustin HillisIt was a great learning lesson to hear I was being evaluated kind of covertly. As I'm evaluating new leaders I've realized that seeing people in action is the ultimate form of a litmus test. Someone's track record far exceeds talking to them or interviewing them. —Dustin HillisI think the most important thing as a leader is to hone in on your core values and to focus on why you're here. If you don't know why you're doing something, then what are you actually doing? —Dustin HillisMore important than money is your time. What we really believe in at Southwestern is investing time in people. When you invest time in people, those people build great companies. —Dustin HillisIn order to be inspiring, you need to be inspired. We have methodologies that teach people how to be more inspired. —Dustin Hillis







Dustin's final thoughts: The 11 businesses that we've started in the last year are ...

Further episodes of The Action Catalyst

Further podcasts by Dan Moore and Dustin Hillis

Website of Dan Moore and Dustin Hillis