The Company Next Door
In this show I have the opportunity to sit down with hundreds of small business owners and help tell their story. We spend less time talking about profits and revenue and more time about how the business came to be, what got them started, why do they do what they do, and what keeps them going. This show is focused on small businesses in Utah but I may one day branch out to other states.
The Company Next Door
Jace Kandle: Lake Kandle (Sewell, NJ)
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Ete AhPing
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Season 3
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Episode 4
Today Ete sits down with Jace Kandle of Lake Kandle.
About Jace
- South Jersey native
- Partner at Lake Kandle, a family-owned 86-acre destination campground and swim club in it’s 60th year
- 24-7 manager during the season
- Big time fan of Atomic Square
What helped him get to where he is today
- Not starting from scratch: stepping into an established family business that was already a recognized South Jersey institution (2:02)
- Learning from the past: seeing what to do when you inherit $1,000,000 in debt (10:21)
- Education: an international business and history degree (17:23)
- Making the personal choice: being able to grow up in the business and then choosing to become a part of it (22:36)
- Outside support: trustee of NJCOA - access to good information, and advocacy through an industry organization (26:51)
- A restorative resource: exercise - finding clarity through running (30:05)
- Understanding parents: parents with realistic expectations of kids (33:38)
- Purpose: enjoying the chance to work with and to help young people grow (37:21)
- A restorative resource: Nature: getting to connect with Nature (38:46)
The hard parts: memorable learning experiences (mistakes), difficulties, and challenges along the way
- Managing dozens of employees, mostly young, inexperienced teens (31:00)
- Dealing with unexpected problems out of his control. Feeling “helpless.” (26:17)
- Covid: how it affected business, feeling helpless, dealing with expectations, and questions with no answers (26:18)
- Challenge of learning to delegate more (34:30)
- Transition between the season and off-season and back (34:50)
- Nonstop work: Being there 24-7. Not having “a life” during the season. (20:13)
Major Insights
- Running a small business is “a high stakes poker game. Every day.” All your eggs are “in one basket.” (23:50)
- You can do everything right and still have your business fail. The unexpected happens. (24:19)
- “Everyday ends.” (25:15)
- “You have to be fluid, because, you know, things change. Things change really quick...Figure out what people want.” (32:50)
- “Be patient...It’s gonna take a whole lot of work.” (39:31)
- Watch your expectations for happiness. Invest in the “meat and potatoes,” not the “quick hits.” (44:34)
- “Happiness is feeling purpose.” (45:45)
Miscellaneous Good Stuff
- South Jersey is not a dump. (:24)
- A kid’s dream: full time Sega, wiffle ball and jailbreak (3:47)
- First tractor accident. At 7. (14:39)
- Taking over the family business: “It was like Lion King...I can't wait to be king.” : ) (15:47)
- Trying to be an engineer. “But uh, then physics hit. And there she went.” (16:53)
- Yes, please: The Kandle family tradition we want to institute too. (40:06)