Things to ponder

Some leaders build companies. Others build legacies. Charles Tate did both. From investment banking to outdoor hospitality, his story isn’t about following a formula. It’s about trusting your instincts, taking bold risks, and choosing to lead differently when the easy option would be to stay the same.

Throughout his career, Charles has shown that doing things differently isn’t just about innovation. It’s about connection. Whether navigating Wall Street or creating new kinds of businesses from the ground up, his success comes from asking better questions: What emotion is my business solving for? How does this decision actually serve people, not just numbers?

For Charles, business is deeply human. The most successful companies, he says, don’t just sell a product; they solve an emotional need. Think of FedEx restoring trust, Starbucks creating community, or Buc-ee’s redefining comfort in the most unexpected way. When you understand the emotions that drive people, you start building something that lasts.

In this episode of Rethink Change, Charles chats with Ward about what it really means to lead differently. You’ll hear how clarity, courage, and emotional connection come together to build not just great businesses but meaningful ones, as well as how to surround yourself with the right people who can take your business to the next level. When it comes to entrepreneurship, it takes a lot of grit to keep pushing through challenges. But it also takes a lot of heart to create something impactful for your ideal audience.

• Resources
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• Chapters:
• 00:00 – Passion, Persistence, and the Entrepreneurial Mindset
• 02:15 – Doing Things Differently: The Power of Bold Decisions
• 05:10 – Reinvention: Pivoting Toward New Opportunities
• 08:00 – Innovating Capital: Rethinking Private Equity Strategy
• 11:00 – Building Beyond Yourself: Transition and Legacy
• 14:00 – Strategy Through Emotion: Rethinking What Business Solves For
• 17:00 – FedEx, Starbucks, and Buc-ee’s: Lessons in Emotional Strategy
• 20:00 – Newton Nurseries: Turning Insight Into Competitive Advantage
• 24:00 – Time as Currency: Building Around Customer Efficiency
• 27:00 – Outdoor Hospitality: Designing Emotion Into Experience
• 31:00 – Leadership Clarity: Focus, Management, and Purpose

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