Project Management Problems Always Have People Solutions with Charlie Garcia

Apr 1, 2022 | Accountability, Hot Mess Hotline Podcast

Charlie Garcia, president of C. Garcia and Associates, has learned that every project management problem really needs a people-focused solution. He grew up in the construction industry and learned early on to take responsibility for what’s broken AND what’s going right.

In this episode, you’ll hear Charlie describe a problem completely caused by other people but making him look bad. Like losing millions of dollars bad. He lost a lot of sleep fixing this hot mess, but didn’t waste a second trying to blame others. He simply got to work.

During this episode listen to Charlie tell how he solved an expensive problem by working with people, not against them. Plus many more insights like these:

If you’re growing and leading, hot messes are unavoidable
If you can’t figure out what’s going on, go watch the problem in action
A plan isn’t the only thing you need to be successful
Don’t circumvent the process; running your ideas up the chain of command is essential
Take responsibility for solving problems…not fixing people.
Being stuck in emotion stops you solving problems
The curse of the overachiever: you think you’re failing; others think you’re a rock star
There is great wisdom in a multitude of experiences.
You don’t need others’ permission to lead.
Success comes from taking risks.
Instead of saying, “What don’t I have?” Ask, “What do I have?
To be successful, be more selfish.
Don’t be Teflon Pete.
What overachievers get wrong about outpacing other people
If you have a hard time asking for help, at least seek counsel
Simple solutions have big impact
Powerful self coaching questions you can use to feel successful

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About Charlie Garcia

Charlie J. Garcia is the owner and President of C Garcia Associates consulting firm and has won numerous awards including the 1994 Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst and Young, and Small Businessman of the Year in 2000 by the SBA.

He has proudly called Indianapolis his home since the late 1980s. Born in San Francisco, California, Garcia attended the College of San Mateo, and graduated from the Way College of Biblical Research. Garcia attended Butler University, and has also graduated from Dartmouth University, and University of California, Los Angeles Executive Programs.

Charlie has served the business and nonprofit community extensively on boards such as Butler University, Bank One (Indiana) Federal Reserve Bank, the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Eiteljorg Museum, Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, Indiana Progress Industry Committee, Crossroads of America Boy Scouts, and the Challenge School Academy Charter School.

Garcia’s greatest contributions in many ways are his efforts to mentor aspiring entrepreneurs. The mentoring program he developed has been adopted by the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce to assist minority and women-owned businesses to grow at rates of 20 to 60 percent.

Rich Leaders Have Rich Relationships with Jack Gibson

A little-discussed asset class known by rich leaders is to have rich relationships. Jack Gibson is a leader who values trust over money; friendship over revenue. Just a few short years ago, he was feeling hot, hot, hot about real estate investing with a business partner. He referred his friends to this person. Everything was great while everyone was making money together.

Until it wasn’t and they were all losing money. Big time. Jack put on his cape and saved the day. While he’s learned since then that “saving others” isn’t his job, he’ll never regret saving a relationship at the expense of virtually everything else. Listen in to our conversation where lifelong friends have stayed trusted partners because he knows the value of the best investment out there: relationship capital.

Insights into Uncomfortable Race Conversations at Work with Danielle Meadows-Stinnett

Have you ever wanted insights into uncomfortable race conversations at work but didn’t know who to ask? Our guest, Danielle Meadows-Stinnett, is generous enough to share a hot mess she found herself in as the CEO of her marketing company. She describes what it felt like when a client said to her teammate, “Do you even speak English?”

For those of us in more privileged positions in our American culture, we need to learn what it’s like sitting in the chair across from us as a person of color, a non-native English speaker, someone without a college degree whose colleagues all have college degrees, etc. etc. Unfortunately we’ve created too many ways to outrank each other. This conversation is a great reminder that we all show up to work looking to make a difference as a fellow human. Not a fellow human with all the labels we put on each other and ourselves.

How Small Tweaks Create Big Change with Nikki Evans

Big change is created by small tweaks. One of our faculty members, Nikki Evans, reminds us that change happens in small steps. Our brains are wired for overwhelm when we try to prioritize, do, plan, think through too many steps. Coaching reminds us to use our human superpowers of focus, critical thinking, and taking one step at a time.

Nikki shares her coaching perspective, why you might want to work with her, and what to expect. After listening I hope you’ll find her as amazing as I do and see why she’s a natural fit here at Stefanie Krievins & Co.