I Have Some Questions…
I Have Some Questions...
Podcast Description
What if leadership wasn’t about having the answers—but about asking better questions?On "I Have Some Questions…", Erik Berglund – a founder, coach, and Speechcraft evangelist – dives into the conversations that high performers aren’t having enough. This isn’t your typical leadership podcast. It’s a tactical deep-dive into the soft skills that actually drive results: the hard-to-nail moments of accountability, the awkward feedback loops, and the language that turns good leaders into great ones.Each week, Erik explores a question that has shaped his own journey. Expect raw, unpolished curiosity. Expect conversations with bold thinkers, rising leaders, and practitioners who are tired of recycled advice and ready to talk about what really works. Expect episodes that get under the hood of how real change happens: through what we say, how we say it, and how often we practice it.This show is for driven managers, emerging execs, and anyone who knows that real growth comes from curiosity rather than charisma.Subscribe if you’re ready to stop winging it and start leading with intention.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on critical leadership skills, self-awareness, and accountability, with episodes diving into topics like how to lead teams in an AI-enhanced environment and the significance of asking better questions for personal and organizational growth.
Most people know the headline of a leader’s story. Few know the path it took to get there. This podcast goes beyond titles, book launches and business wins, to explore the lived journey behind the thought leader.
Through deep, unhurried conversations, we uncover the moments that shaped them—the doubts, pivots, convictions, and quiet breakthroughs that built their body of work.
Each episode features authors, coaches, executives, and bold thinkers who have forged their own path. Instead of rehearsed talking points, they’re invited into a space where thoughtful questions unlock something more human. The result is a layered conversation that reveals not just what they preach, but how they became the kind of person who can teach it.
Because we believe the best stories aren’t always told—they’re revealed. And when brilliant people are given the right questions and the room to answer them fully, what emerges is insight you can feel, frameworks you can apply, and a deeper understanding of what it truly takes to lead, create, and contribute at a meaningful level.
Bill Dowd went from professional hockey player to founder of North America’s largest humane wildlife control franchise — and in the process, built a business most people never even realize exists until they desperately need it.
In this conversation, Erik and Bill unpack the realities of scaling a “boring” business into a category-defining company, the hidden opportunity inside fragmented industries, and why systems, customer service, and relentless execution still beat flashy ideas.
They also explore franchising, hiring, leadership, AI, operational excellence, and the surprising emotional shift society has made toward humane animal control.
This episode is a masterclass in spotting overlooked opportunity and building durable businesses that solve real-world problems.
👤 About the Guest
Bill Dowd is the founder and CEO of Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, North America’s leading humane wildlife removal franchise. A former professional hockey player drafted by the New York Islanders, Bill transitioned from athletics into entrepreneurship and built Skedaddle from a one-truck operation into a 60+ location franchise system across Canada and the United States.
Known for pioneering humane wildlife removal practices and prevention-focused solutions, Bill has spent nearly four decades redefining an industry built around customer trust, operational systems, and long-term thinking.
🧭 Conversation Highlights
Building an Industry Most People Never Notice. Bill explains how wildlife control is one of the largest hidden markets in North America — because every home, city, and business eventually has to coexist with animals.
From Professional Hockey to Entrepreneurship. The conversation explores how lessons from sports — leadership, discipline, teamwork, and specialization — translated directly into building a scalable business.
Why Franchising Became the Growth Engine. Bill shares how he realized the business could scale nationally through systems, training, and operational consistency rather than trying to personally own every market.
💡 Key Takeaways
- Great businesses often exist in overlooked industries with endless recurring demand.
- Systems and execution matter more than flashy ideas when scaling.
- Customer service remains one of the biggest competitive advantages available.
- Franchising works best when operators follow proven systems while still contributing ideas.
- Hiring, training, and retaining strong people becomes the true growth bottleneck.
- “Boring businesses” frequently have massive total addressable markets.
❓ Questions That Mattered
- What makes certain “unsexy” businesses such incredible opportunities?
- How do you scale a service business across wildly different geographies?
- What traits separate successful franchisees from struggling ones?
- How do you maintain innovation while protecting franchise owner investments?
- What happens when customer expectations evolve faster than an industry?
- Why does humane treatment create a stronger business model?
- How do you build systems
🗣️ Notable Quotes
“We’re a marketing company that just happens to chase raccoons.”
“First to the door wins.”
“A lot of things happen that aren’t our fault, but are still our responsibility.”
“Do what you do well and hire the rest.”
“We’re well past the point where we can remove wildlife from cities. We have to learn to live with them.”
“AI isn’t replacing someone crawling through an attic chasing a squirrel.”
🔗 Links & Resources
- Follow Bill on LinkedIn
- Check out Skedaddle's Website: www.skedaddlew
Disclaimer
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