The Secrets to Being Sticky—Why Customers Keep Coming Back (51)

The Secrets to Being Sticky—Why Customers Keep Coming Back (51)

Author: Chad Lingafelt, Tony Hokanson, Lars Johnston October 17, 2025 Duration: 55:21

It's the half-century mark! For Episode 50, Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe in Alberta, Tony from Assured Security in Minnesota, and Chad from Loc-Doc Security in Charlotte, NC, dive into the question every business owner needs to answer: Why do customers come back? Moving beyond the cliché of "great service," they explore what truly makes a business "sticky" in a competitive market. Chad introduces his company's core value of "Outrageous Kindness" and the critical need to build that culture internally before expecting it externally. Tony highlights the power of "Personalized Connections", focusing on building consistent relationships between technicians and customers. The hosts debate whether being the fastest (Lars) or the highest quality (Tony) is the ultimate differentiator, ultimately agreeing that convenience is the new black. They use examples from Ritz-Carlton, Tesla, and Amazon to illustrate how reducing customer friction, from simple digital approvals to making it easy to pay, is the key to enduring brand loyalty.


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
Processing the Process (55) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:22
Do your business processes feel more like a tangled web of handcuffs than a straight path to profit? In this episode, Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe, Tony from Assured Security, and Chad from Loc-Doc Security dive into th…
Stop Solving Problems, Start Finding the 'Who' (54) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:55
Are you an entrepreneur stuck in the endless cycle of solving every problem in your business? This episode, recorded live in Austin, Texas, dives into the mindset shift needed to break the $3 Million Revenue Ceiling and…
Mastering Leverage, Cash Flow, and Debt (53) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:37
Do you view debt as a four-letter word, or as a tool for accelerated growth? In this financially focused episode, Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe in Alberta, Tony from Assured Security in Minnesota, and Chad from Loc-Doc S…
Retention Strategies: Investing in Technicians (52) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:13
Are you an entrepreneur worried that investing in training only prepares your employees to become your next competitor? This episode dives deep into the high-stakes problem of technician turnover in the security and lock…
Business Consulting: Workshop our Problems (49) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:57
In this episode of Unlocked, Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe, Tony from Assured Security, and Chad from Loc-Doc Security do a deep dive into an "uncomfortable truths" workshop, tackling real-time business challenges. Movin…
5 KPIs We Use to Drive Our Business (48) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:23
Are you a business owner who feels like you’re just guessing at what's working? In this episode of Unlocked, Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe in Alberta, Tony from Assured Security in Minnesota, and Chad from Loc-Doc Securi…
Strategic Planning: From Vision to Reality (47) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:07
Are you struggling to plan for the future of your business? 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,…
Breaking the $3 Million Ceiling (46) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:36
Are you an entrepreneur stuck in the "messy middle" of growth, hovering around the $3 million revenue mark? In this episode of Unlocked, Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe in Alberta, Tony from Assured Security in Minnesota,…
Uncomfortable Truths of Entrepreneurship (45) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:40
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, dive into some of the uncomfortable truths of entrepreneurs…