From the Trenches to Inc. 5000
Ryan Keck has gone from digging in the field to leading UTILISOUTH INC onto the Inc. 5000 list (No. 4346).
He’s the kind of leader who shows up alongside his team, whether they’re navigating tough seasons or celebrating big wins.
In today’s edition of Landed Not Handed, Ryan shares his take on career development, including:
- The key to overcoming challenges
- The biggest mistake you can make as a candidate
- The inside scoop on interviewing with his team
What are some key takeaways from your career?
Don’t let limiting beliefs stop you. I almost missed out on being on the Inc. 5000 list this year because I assumed it would be too difficult.
Leadership development crosses every industry: profit, nonprofit, ministry. Early on, mentors in ministry were teaching me the same principles I’m reading in business books today. That type of growth carries over into all areas of life and every industry.
Vision matters. Without it, you either have to pay better than everyone else or you attract people who don’t have anything better to do. Vision helps you attract people who actually want to be part of what you’re building.
If you had to describe your ideal team player, what would you say?
We use Patrick Lencioni’s The Ideal Team Player framework: humble, hungry, and smart.
Humble means you’re okay with others getting credit, you admit mistakes, and you accept feedback.
Hungry is about work ethic: are you self-motivated, or does someone have to drag you out of bed every day?
Smart isn’t book smarts, it’s people smarts. Are you self-aware and others-aware? Do you know how your communication impacts a team?
We even use humble, hungry, smart in employee reviews. People don’t have to be perfect in all three, but we want to see progress and a desire to grow.
I believe values trump skills. Obviously, you need skills (you can’t start a hospital without doctors), but if you build a team on shared values, you’ll accomplish great things and people will actually enjoy the work.
What is a common mistake candidates or team members make? How do you guide your team to avoid it?
On a very practical note: a four-page resume is too much. Keep it concise, tailor it to the job, and make sure your email address looks professional.
The bigger issue is when people don’t realize how their choices affect the team. If you’re late on a busy construction project, that’s a big deal. Things happen, alarms die, phones die, but it’s worth an apology to your team because they’re picking up the slack.
The other big problem is a lack of ownership. Not admitting mistakes, not accepting feedback. My perspective is that even expensive mistakes are learning investments. If it’s a thousand-dollar mistake, then I just made a thousand-dollar investment in you. If you’re willing to accept feedback, the sky’s the limit.
How do you overcome challenges?
Prayer
Exercise
No email on my phone. If it’s urgent, someone will call.
These help me be healthier mentally and emotionally.
Spiritually, I use the Pause app by John Eldredge. One line I repeat often is, ‘I give everyone and everything to you, God.’ It helps me reset.
And I’ve broken up with social media on my phone. Phones are a major source of stress and distraction. Setting boundaries with it has been huge.
If you could give one piece of advice to job seekers, what would it be?
Quit looking for your dream job and go work somewhere that will invest in you. People end up liking their jobs when they’re good at their jobs, not when they land their so-called dream role.
Your goal should be to make your employer more money than they pay you. If you can do that, you’re valuable. Someone will recognize and pay for that value.
And don’t be afraid to ask for help. People are willing to mentor if they know you want to grow.
What should job seekers know about interviewing with your company?
My goal is for both of us to find out if it’s a fit. We’re about values. If you’re not aligned with those, you won’t like it here, and that’s okay. There are other places you might fit better. But we want alignment on values first.
What’s one skill or trait you predict will be essential moving forward?
I don’t think college degrees are the future. AI is going to replace a lot of jobs, aside from professional degrees like doctors and lawyers. But it won’t replace trades. Somebody still has to hang drywall and fix cars.
If I were in my 20s or 30s and unsure of my path, I’d look at trades. They’re more scarce than ever, and they won’t be replaced by AI anytime soon.
Thank you so much for sharing, Ryan.
If you’d like to learn more about Ryan, check out his LinkedIn here. And if you’d like to learn more about Utilisouth and their recent growth, check out their website here.