How To Win In The Midwest
Claim This Podcastby Peter Schmidt
Podcast Overview
<p>This is a show that will tell the stories of success for the Midwest. The modern media landscape loves to talk about outliers. The unicorns. The world-ending supernovas. Companies that have global impact. But the reality is that our lives are more frequently impacted by companies in our own backyards. The formula to win in New York or San Francisco might not be the same formula to win in Cincinnati, Milwaukee, or Nashville. The playbook for success in the Midwest, The Heartland, is mostly unique to the region. </p><p><br /></p><p>Unfortunately, it's not well studied. Harvard Business School doesn't write a lot of case studies about tool and die shops in Dayton, Ohio. We don’t have New York Times best selling books being written about the companies that employ our families and friends. And we don’t even have a business journal of record that covers anything other than new real estate projects - no offense to those publications. </p><p><br /></p><p>But these companies are worth studying because the Midwest isn't going anywhere. In fact, the Midwest is the beating heart of our country. Many of the companies located here have an outsized impact on our global economy and have more impact that a lot of buzzier names on the coasts. And while the Midwest has had some tough times, everyone knows that those don't last, but tough people do. And so do tough lessons. </p><p><br /></p><p>So we want to study them, track them, dissect them, and find ways to put these lessons into action. We are going to study success stories in business and culture and who and what makes them work so well. We will answer questions like What's the story behind this enduring ice cream brand that's been around for 156 years? Why does that bank with a funny name seem to be everywhere and what makes them so successful? And why does the local orchestra proliferate and seem to own every concert venue in town and much more? We are writing a new playbook for how to win in the Midwest. </p><p><br /></p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
2/27/2026
1 verified contact email on file for How To Win In The Midwest
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
Recent Episodes
July 1, 2026
Episode 4: Worthington Industries, Steel, Enterprises and Beyond
<p>The conversation delves into the history of the steel industry, the founding of Worthington Industries, and the evolution of the business model from brokerage to manufacturing. It explores the challenges faced by small buyers of steel and the innovative solutions provided by Worthington Industries. The conversation delves into the topics of outsourcing and the tier system, highlighting the significance of these practices in the industry. It also explores the implementation of the Golden Rule and the treatment of employees, emphasizing the impact of these principles on the company's success. The conversation methodically explores the impact of mini-mills on the steel industry and the strategic acquisitions and expansion of Worthington. It delves into the collapse of the steel industry in the United States, the emergence of mini-mills, and the subsequent disruption of the traditional steel manufacturing process. Additionally, it highlights Worthington's approach to strategic acquisitions and its expansion into various business segments. The conversation delves into Worthington Industries' journey through the 2009 recession, survival mode, and subsequent rebound in 2011. It explores the company's expansion into consumer products, leadership transitions, strategic split, and the analysis of Worthington's success, focusing on cost structure advantage, cultural operating system theory, and geographic centrality theory. The conversation delves into the consistency and focus of Worthington Industries, the reindustrialization and automation trends in the Midwest, success factors and potential threats, leadership and stewardship of the business, business expansion and industry positioning, Midwestern business culture and values, and exploring new opportunities and growth strategies.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Steel industry history</li><li>Worthington Industries founding</li><li>Business model evolution Outsourcing and the Tier System</li><li>The Golden Rule and Employee Treatment Impact of mini-mills on the steel industry</li><li>Worthington's strategic acquisitions Diversification</li><li>Geographic Centrality</li><li>Cultural Operating System Theory Consistency and focus</li><li>Diversification and automation</li><li>Midwestern business culture</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 The Steel Industry and Its History</li><li>15:59 The Founding of Worthington Industries</li><li>23:52 Evolution of the Business Model</li><li>29:34 The Golden Rule and Employee Treatment</li><li>51:15 The Rise of Mini-Mills and Impact on the Steel Industry</li><li>01:14:58 The 2009 Recession and Survival Mode</li><li>01:37:21 Reindustrialization and Automation Trends</li><li>01:44:28 Midwestern Business Culture and Values</li></ul>
May 19, 2026
Episode 3: Gorilla Glue - All 600 lbs of Brand Power
<p>The conversation delves into the history of glue, the acquisition of Lutz Tool, the success story of the Gorilla Glue Company, and the expansion of the business. It also explores the marketing strategy, SKU expansion, and leadership transition, highlighting the brand's growth and expansion over the years. The conversation delves into the incident involving Gorilla Glue, its public image, business expansion, resilience, financial growth, market position, industry comparison, growth trajectory, market impact, regional influence, CPG dominance, branding strategy, brand differentiation, brand consistency, brand power, market positioning, growth potential, playbook themes, industrial inheritance, hero company spinoff, talent acquisition, market expansion, channel expansion, market education, market innovation, cost structure advantage, geographic centrality, economic resilience, bear case, and bull case.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>History of glue dates back to 200,000 BC</li><li>Gorilla Glue's success and expansion</li><li>Marketing strategy and SKU expansion Gorilla Glue's success is attributed to its focus, steady expansion, and understanding of the companies it has acquired.</li><li>Gorilla Glue's branding, product quality, and hard work have contributed to its success as a great Midwestern success story.</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 The History of Glue</li><li>11:20 Mark Singer's Polyurethane Adhesive</li><li>21:19 Gorilla Glue's Marketing Strategy</li><li>31:45 Gorilla Glue's Growth and Expansion</li><li>39:14 Expansion and Marketing in 2013</li><li>46:20 Gorilla Glue's Facility Expansion</li><li>51:20 Leadership Transition and Business Growth</li><li>57:24 Gorilla Glue's Business Expansion</li><li>01:03:03 Gorilla Glue's Growth Trajectory</li><li>01:08:18 Gorilla Glue's Brand Differentiation</li><li>01:14:25 Gorilla Glue's Playbook Themes</li><li>01:20:18 Gorilla Glue's Market Education</li><li>01:26:06 Gorilla Glue's Geographic Centrality</li><li>01:31:08 Gorilla Glue's Bull Case</li></ul>
March 31, 2026
Episode 2: TQL - Just Win, Baby
<p>The conversation covers the history and evolution of freight brokerage, the founding of Total Quality Logistics (TQL), and the impact of the Great Recession on the logistics industry. It also explores the competitive landscape, hiring practices, and the role of technology in the industry. TQL's journey from 2009 to 2025 is marked by impressive growth, geographic expansion, technological advancements, and a strong sales-driven culture. The company's focus on sales, technology, and people has propelled it to become a major player in the logistics industry, with a significant increase in market share and revenue. TQL's ability to adapt to industry changes and maintain a strong sales culture has been key to its success. Total Quality Logistics (TQL) is a company known for its competitive culture and high earning potential. The company's focus on technology, expansion, and potential acquisition of a sports franchise are key discussion points. The competitive nature of TQL's culture is evident in its approach to business and growth strategies.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Freight brokerage is a complex and essential part of the logistics industry.</li><li>TQL's success is attributed to its hiring practices, focus on core competencies, and ability to adapt to industry changes. Sales-driven culture</li><li>Geographic expansion</li><li>Technology integration</li><li>Market share growth Competitive Culture</li><li>Technology and Expansion</li><li>Potential Acquisition of a Sports Franchise</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 Understanding Freight Brokerage</li><li>09:15 Founding of Total Quality Logistics (TQL)</li><li>18:05 TQL's Growth and Competitive Landscape</li><li>30:12 Industry Changes and Technology</li><li>35:35 Navigating Threats and Growth</li><li>41:08 Technology Offerings and Business Automation</li><li>46:16 Industry Disruption and Business Strategy</li><li>54:17 Market Share and Competitors</li><li>01:03:00 Sales Strategy and Customer-Centric Approach</li><li>01:08:58 Earning Potential and Competitive Culture</li><li>01:15:21 Technology and Innovation in Freight Market</li><li>01:20:53 Exploring New Business Opportunities</li><li>01:26:25 Potential Expansion and Sports Franchise Acquisition</li></ul>
4 total episodes available
Deep-dive analytics for How To Win In The Midwest
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is How To Win In The Midwest?
<p>This is a show that will tell the stories of success for the Midwest. The modern media landscape loves to talk about outliers. The unicorns. The world-ending supernovas. Companies that have global impact. But the reality is that our lives are more frequently impacted by companies in our own backyards. The formula to win in New York or San Francisco might not be the same formula to win in Cincinnati, Milwaukee, or Nashville. The playbook for success in the Midwest, The Heartland, is mostly unique to the region. </p><p><br /></p><p>Unfortunately, it's not well studied. Harvard Business School doesn't write a lot of case studies about tool and die shops in Dayton, Ohio. We don’t have New York Times best selling books being written about the companies that employ our families and friends. And we don’t even have a business journal of record that covers anything other than new real estate projects - no offense to those publications. </p><p><br /></p><p>But these companies are worth studying because the Midwest isn't going anywhere. In fact, the Midwest is the beating heart of our country. Many of the companies located here have an outsized impact on our global economy and have more impact that a lot of buzzier names on the coasts. And while the Midwest has had some tough times, everyone knows that those don't last, but tough people do. And so do tough lessons. </p><p><br /></p><p>So we want to study them, track them, dissect them, and find ways to put these lessons into action. We are going to study success stories in business and culture and who and what makes them work so well. We will answer questions like What's the story behind this enduring ice cream brand that's been around for 156 years? Why does that bank with a funny name seem to be everywhere and what makes them so successful? And why does the local orchestra proliferate and seem to own every concert venue in town and much more? We are writing a new playbook for how to win in the Midwest. </p><p><br /></p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Information about guest appearances is not available.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.