Arnie Malham created a small side venture to help a few clients market beyond just the TV station. That venture ultimately got him fired and quickly became his best and only career option. Without a clue as to how to run a company, Arnie repeatedly “got it wrong” when it came to hiring, firing, and everything else related to building a business. Armed with his belief that different is better than good, outliers are fascinating, and mind-set is everything, Malham persevered.

Thanks to hundreds of business books, dozens of patient mentors, and a universe conspiring to help him, Malham stumbled upon a bold, culture-first approach that gave his fledgling company the momentum it needed. cj Advertising grew to become the largest full-service brand-building agency in the country… exclusively for law firms. Malham has since leveraged his cutting-edge culture to launch two other businesses, Legal Intake Professionals and BetterBookClub.com.

Malham lives in Nashville with his wife of more than 20 years, two stubborn but awesome teenagers, and his trusted dog Katy. When he’s not working to improve the cultures of his three companies, Arnie can be found on his side porch enjoying a decent cigar, an affordable scotch, and an inspiring book (usually all at the same time).

Show Highlights:

Culture follows leadership.  @amalhamBelieve that everyone else is coming to work for you to be successful. @amalhamUnless you start building culture from day one, you will never be able to execute on the opportunity. @amalhamCulture has allowed our company to withstand the hard times. @amalhamYou must be able to tell your employees what success looks like. @amalhamYour team come in every day and impress your clients. All they want is a workplace that gives them all the tools they need. @amalhamIf you have happy team members, it's impossible not to have happy clients. @amalham

Visit Arniemalham.com for more on Arnie, workplace culture, and his book Worth Doing Wrong.

The Action Catalyst is a weekly podcast hosted by Dan Moore, President of Southwestern Advantage, the oldest direct-sales company in America, and Partner with Southwestern Consulting. With more than 45 years in sales leadership and marketing management, Dan has a wealth of knowledge to share on how to make better use of time to achieve life, sales, and other business goals. Each week, he interviews some of the nation’s top thought leaders and experts, sharing meaningful tips and advice. Subscribe on iTunes and please leave a rating and review!