What happens when a 39-year-old takes over a family business and inherits employees who are decades older?
In this powerful episode of CEOs Unscripted, Jane Gentry sits down with Jim Nooney, who transformed Nooney Controls through the revolutionary power of gratitude and authentic leadership.
Jim shares his raw journey from feeling “unsuited” to run his father’s business to building a culture where employees genuinely looked forward to coming to work. You’ll discover why he believes gratitude is a “superpower” in business, how being debt-free enabled strategic risk-taking, and why asking for forgiveness can actually deepen business relationships.
Key Takeaways:
- Why sincere gratitude (not gifts) transforms workplace dynamics
- How to establish authority when leading people older than you
- The hidden costs of employee turnover and how to prevent it
- Why “no one cares what you know until they know you care”
- The business case for putting employee wellbeing first
Episode Highlights
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- (00:05:00) Jim’s backstory and the founding of Nooney Controls
- (00:15:00) Challenges of taking over a family business
- (00:25:00) The role of gratitude in leadership and business success
- (00:35:00) Building sincere relationships with employees and vendors
- (00:45:00) Key insights on gratitude as a leadership tool
- (00:55:00) The impact of gratitude on company culture and employee engagement.
- (01:05:00) Jim’s advice for young leaders and aspiring CEOs.
Episode Guest
About Jim Nooney, Retired CEO of Nooney Controls Corp
Jim Nooney was the president and CEO of Nooney Controls Corp., an industrial valve and controls integrator, for 21 years, stepping out in 2023. During his time in leadership, the business grew 3X and transitioned from a traditional product distributor to a valve add custom integrator focused on OEMs with customers throughout the US, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Presently, Jim is involved in serving on several NFP organizations and mentoring various types.
About Jane Gentry
Jane Gentry has had a successful 30-year career as a CEO, Business Consultant, Executive Coach, and Keynoter. Jane formed her practice in 1999 and since then has partnered with her clients to improve growth, profitability, client retention, employee retention, leadership capabilities and business value.
Jane leverages strategies including the proprietary Value Blueprint to enable business owners and leaders to successfully create healthy organizations, plan for succession or sell their businesses for the highest possible market value. Jane is considered one of the top voices in leadership and sales.
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CEOs Unscripted
Where Real Talk Drives Real Growth And Delivers Real Results For Mid-market Leaders.
Welcome to CEOs Unscripted, the podcast where real talk drives real growth and delivers real results for mid-market leaders. Each episode offers an unfiltered, behind-the-scenes look at the wins, the losses, and the playbooks shared by CEOs, founders, and executives. Grab a seat and join us for unscripted, honest conversations about what it takes to lead, grow, and scale in today’s business landscape.
