Webcast Details
- Gallup Called to Coach Webcast Series
- Season 3, Episode 23
- Find out what the founder of Godfather's Pizza learned about building a business, and how the CliftonStrengths and BP10 assessments took his self-discovery to the next level.
On a recent Called to Coach, we spoke with the founder of Godfather's pizza and a world-renowned entrepreneur, Willy Theisen.
Gallup's goal is to have 1 billion people take the CliftonStrengths assessment so they know and understand their strengths. That goal will only be reached by partnering with successful businessmen like Willy Theisen. Willy is first and foremost an entrepreneur. He began working in frontline jobs -- like being a fry cook -- with an astounding work ethic. He was willing to work weekends at a real estate job when no one else would. Willy said all good entrepreneurs pay attention to the "small stuff" and make sure that all details of a business are perfect.
In his mid-20s, Willy was having difficulty selling a commercial space. So, he decided to buy the space himself and open a pizzeria, but he had to obtain funding. He approached a local bank for a loan and pitched his idea: he was going to make quality pizzas larger than his head and sell them at a reasonable price. The bank gave Willy a loan on one condition: every time the banker visited Godfather's Pizza, he wanted to see Willy working. Willy said this was the best advice ever because it forced him to work even harder and understand the business on a minute, day-to-day level. When Willy sold Godfather's Pizza in 2014, the chain had over 900 franchises all over the United States.
Even though Willy did not have access to the CliftonStrengths and BP10 (formerly EP10) assessments when he started Godfather's Pizza, he has learned a lot about himself from taking both assessments at age 69. Willy's strengths that were identified through the CliftonStrengths assessment were spot-on. He felt that his strengths provided insight into how he worked as a person, as an entrepreneur and as a boss.
To learn more about Willy and his coaching experiences and expertise, watch the full video or listen to the audio above.
Willy Theisen's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are Futuristic, Strategic, Discipline, Maximizer and Self-Assurance.
Learn more about using CliftonStrengths to help yourself and others succeed:
- Watch more CliftonStrengths webcasts like this episode.
- Sign up to get CliftonStrengths content sent directly to your inbox.
- Shop at store.gallup.com for CliftonStrengths access codes and other essential strengths-based development products.