Episode 66: Three Characteristics of Indispensable Employees - What I Learned as President of a Nascar Hall of Fame Pro Sports Team with Dave Alpern

Ever wondered how to make yourself “unfireable.”? Want to learn how to be so valuable to your employee and your company that you are indispensable to them? From the unpaid intern who was sleeping on the floor of a fellow co-worker to the president of a Nascar Hall of Fame Pro Sports team, this is the story of today’s guest Dave Alpern. President of the Joe Gibbs Nascar Racing Team, Dave has incredible insight on how to make yourself into some who provides tremendous value to your employer. Today we dive into Dave’s story and a company that grew from 15 employees to over 500.

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3 Key Takeaways

1. No task is beneath you. It’s the little things you do that matter. 
2. The more you value your people, the more your people value your mission.
3. Not everyone is the alpha leader. Find a leadership style that is genuinely you.

Show Notes

What does a day in the life of a Nascar team look like during Covid?

• We took a break for three months where we worked completely remotely like so many across the country.
• After the three-month quarantine period, however, we got back to the office as the Nascar events were still going.
• The week of this episode is the first week it feels like after 14 months of the pandemic that things are back to normal.
• With restrictions coming down we are finally able to host many of our sponsors for summits and team-building events.

We were able to finally host our sponsor, Interstate Batteries, after 14 months of doing this remotely. It is just so amazing to have people in the building again! I know many across our nation can relate. - Dave Alpern

What motivated Dave to write his new upcoming book titled, “Taking the Lead?”

• The inspiration came from Dave’s dad who had an incredible career as a CIA operative.
• Dave’s father began a book but was hit with cancer in later years and was never able to finish the book.
• In the early stages of cancer, Dave urged his father to record voice memos of his stories.
• Over the course of a decade, Dave worked on compiling the notes and his own story involving his own journey of nearly 30 years from an intern at the company to the president of the company.
• It wasn’t till becoming president that it truly hit home with Dave the importance of finishing and sharing the book. 

I told my wife, my life is not nearly so exciting as my dad’s. But I want to write down the legacy of God’s faithfulness to us and to this business. - Dave Alpern

How did Dave get his foot in the door to go from being an intern to the president?

• The journey began as an unpaid intern with a broom closet for a desk and sleeping on a paid employee’s floor.
• Everything coach Joe Gibbs touched seemed to turn to gold and Dave wanted to learn from and work for this man as he could see Joe was a man of character.
• Focusing on this was made the early days of an unpaid intern, sleeping on someone’s floor to have a purpose.
• Dave worked diligently to become indispensable as an intern and being a fountain rather than a drain as he calls it.
• “The T-Shirt Guy” became Dave’s nickname as he devised the brand’s first t-shirts to help represent the team out abroad.
• This idea was what became Dave’s starting point in his early career as head of merchandising and licensing at Joe Gibbs Racing.

The who is more important than the what. We could’ve been selling coat hangers and I still would’ve hitched my wagon to coach Joe and his son J.D. Gibbs. - Dave Alpern

How is the environment and culture at Joe Gibbs different from other pro sports teams and organizations?

• Joe Gibbs seeks to always put people before profits. The team lives out treating people as a soul instead of a transaction.
• The more you value your people, the more your people value your mission.
• As Joe Gibbs has grown from 15 employees and now has over 500, it is the constant challenge of keeping the family element alive in the growing business.
• The little things matter. Every Monday morning the staff meets and prays over every department great and small.
• Every given lunch break there are dozens of Bible studies going, and Chaplins on staff to provide counseling, prayer, and a listening ear to any employee in need.
• You are called to be good at what you do, but at the end of the day what you do is a platform to help and serve people.

The more you value your people, the more your people value your mission. - Dave Alpern

What identity shift was needed for Dave as he rose through the ranks?

• Early on Dave struggled with purpose, as he worried about plateauing as just “the t-shirt guy.”
• Little did he know that God was preparing him for a huge front and center role as he transitioned into the role of president as JD’s health declined.
• Dave has come to realize that while some leaders have a very alpha leadership style he is more of a reluctant leader.
• These two leadership styles complement each other as Joe Gibbs provides the alpha role with Dave to balance it out.

We have completely different leadership styles which in a way is good as if I was also an alpha leader we would probably kill each other! - Dave Alpern 

3 Takeaways that Dave hopes are clear to everyone reading his book?

• Your career is never certain and things won’t always go the way you want. You can make a difference in the little things to put yourself in a better mindset.
• Not everyone is the alpha leader. You can lead in your influence and lead by your character.
• No matter your walk of life things are always better with God at your side throughout it all.

The biggest myth is that a title makes you a leader. - Dave Alpern

Resources For You: 

• To pick up up a copy of Dave’s book go to https://www.takingtheleadbook.com
• If you need help building (or selling) a valuable business, reach out to Cathedral Consulting at [email protected]
• Questions for Seth? Send us your feedback at [email protected]
• Pick up your copy of Ambition: Leading With Gratitude