Business Strategy Shifts: Leveraging Technology and Finding Focus (56)

Business Strategy Shifts: Leveraging Technology and Finding Focus (56)

Author: Chad Lingafelt, Tony Hokanson, Lars Johnston November 20, 2025 Duration: 49:17

After spending a day immersed in the Cloud Security Summit in Austin, Texas, Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe, Tony from Assured Security, and Chad from Loc-Doc Security share their biggest takeaways and action items. The conversation focuses on leveraging technology, shifting business models, and identifying new opportunities within the security space. Tony highlights the power of a unified platform to simplify the purchasing process and make security a proactive operational tool rather than just a reactive cost.


Lars dives into the potential of AI agents (Eva) and business analytics to drive sales, using cameras to track customer behavior (like line waiting times or traffic flow) and employee activity (like attendance). The hosts discuss the need to stop selling "security" and start selling solutions to business and operational challenges like retail theft or customer service. Chad reinforces the crucial strategy of cutting the noise and getting laser-focused on serving an ideal customer instead of saying "yes" to every opportunity, a consistent challenge for growing small businesses.



Tune into Unlocked Podcast for a grounded, cross-border conversation about what it really takes to build a company meant to last. You’ll hear from three practicing business owners, each running their own operations from distinct locations-North Carolina, Minnesota, and Alberta, Canada. They don’t deal in abstract theory; instead, they draw directly from their own evolving playbooks, setbacks, and hard-won victories. The dialogue in this podcast revolves around practical strategies and philosophical shifts necessary for creating enterprises that can thrive beyond a single owner’s tenure. Episodes delve into the nuanced decisions around leadership transition, cultivating a resilient company culture, and implementing systems that ensure stability through market changes. It’s a candid exchange between peers who are in the trenches themselves, offering listeners a rare, ongoing case study from multiple industries and perspectives. If you’re steering a business and thinking about its legacy, this series provides a thoughtful, actionable companion for the long journey ahead.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 76

Unlocked Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Elevate Your Career: Beyond the Job Description (42) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Want to impress your boss and accelerate your career? In "Elevate Your Career: Beyond the Job Description," Part 2 of our "Top Things You Want People to Know" series, Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe in Alberta, Tony from A…
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Want to impress your boss and accelerate your career? In this episode of Unlocked, Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe in Alberta, Tony from Assured Security in Minnesota, and Chad from Loc-Doc Security in Charlotte, NC, revea…
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Duration: 1:19:22
Navigating the difficult terrain of employee termination is a challenge every business owner faces. In this episode of Unlocked, Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe in Alberta, Tony from Assured Security in Minnesota, and Chad…
Prioritizing Processes: Navigating the "Messy Middle" of Growth (39) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:40
Is your growing business caught in the "messy middle" where chaos reigns and consistency is a distant dream? In this episode of Unlocked, Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe in Alberta, Tony from Assured Security in Minnesota,…
The Visionary & The Integrator: Powering Business Growth (38) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:46
Are you a big-picture thinker or a meticulous executor? In this episode of Unlocked, Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe in Alberta, Tony from Assured Security in Minnesota, and Chad from Loc-Doc Security in Charlotte, NC, div…
Old Mindset, New Market: Innovating in the Security Industry (37) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:01
Are traditional approaches holding your security business back? In this episode of Unlocked, Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe in Alberta, Tony from Assured Security in Minnesota, and Chad from Loc-Doc Security in Charlotte,…
The Power of "No": Setting Boundaries for Business Growth (36) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:08
When it comes to business, is "yes" always the best answer? In this episode of Unlocked, hosts Tony, Chad, and Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe, dive into the challenging but critical topic of "When to Say No." They discuss…