MICHAEL McFALL
Leading The Way To Creating New Business
In today’s business world, leaders need to be more than just good at their jobs—they need to build and lead teams, develop strategies, and create a positive work environment. In a world where businesses are increasingly focused on shareholder profits, it can be challenging to find companies that look beyond that; however, a growing number of entrepreneurs are leading the way in creating businesses committed to positively impacting the people they serve. Creating a work environment where employees can thrive, and grow is becoming a more customary practice.
Michael McFall is one such entrepreneur. He is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Biggby® Coffee, a national coffee franchise with over 350 locations, and author of the Inc. original imprints Grow (2023) and Grind (2019). Starting as a barista at Biggby® Coffee, McFall was captivated by the joy he brought customers with each cup he brewed. That experience instilled a deep appreciation for cultivating trusting and healthy relationships, shaping his approach to business success.
SHAPING HIS OUTLOOK
With financial resources, a capable team, and ample experience, successful entrepreneurs bear the responsibility to support others and make a lasting difference—leaders should be committed to creating workplaces where employees are valued and supported and where customers can feel good about doing business with a company that is making a positive impact. To implement these principles into their entrepreneurial experiences, McFall advises individuals to explore their purpose deeply. “What meaningful challenge are you going to take on in the world as an entrepreneur and as an organization?” he asks. “It has to be something you care deeply about.”
Identifying meaningful challenges that align with core values allows leaders to engage the world more powerfully. Being locked into their purpose, entrepreneurs and their organizations can create tremendous results driven by genuine passion and dedication—when you have a strong sense of purpose, it motivates you to persevere. It also helps to make decisions that are aligned with your values.
A SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS
Leaders play a critical role in creating sustainable businesses for the future. Their primary role, and challenge, is to figure out what their organization needs from them at any moment. “As you grow, this role transitions; you are no longer doing, you are facilitating an environment for others to thrive and take on the challenges your company faces.” Leaders must adapt to change and create a culture where everyone feels valued and supported. They also need to be able to build relationships with their stakeholders.
McFall also strongly advocates for Stakeholder Capitalism, a business model that recognizes that all stakeholders, employees, customers, the environment, the community, shareholders, and vendors play a role in the organization’s success. He believes that businesses should be more than just profit machines; they should be responsible stewards of the communities in which they operate. This model is more sustainable and profitable overall.
One key concept McFall highlights in his book Grow: Take Your Business from Chaos to Calm is the importance of leaders doing due diligence on themselves. Leaders can avoid unintended consequences and leverage their strengths by studying and understanding their impact on the organization and its members. Additionally, leaders must embrace becoming irrelevant as their businesses thrive. By allowing competent teams to lead, leaders gain more options, focus on their legacy, and have a more significant impact on the world.
To scale and become a significant enterprise, entrepreneurs must acknowledge their pivotal role in their organization’s success. McFall hopes readers will embrace the idea that “the company of tomorrow will be human-centered and focused on the health and development of their people,” nurturing and supporting the growth of their people to foster a vibrant and dynamic organization.
As McFall ventures into his third book, he envisions a call to action for successful entrepreneurs. With success comes responsibility, and he urges entrepreneurs to use their resources, experience, and connections to support others and improve the human condition. Leaving a powerful legacy that positively impacts the world becomes the ultimate goal that all stakeholders can be proud of.
For more information on Michael McFall,
visit michaeljmcfall.com