Latest / Daily Influence / 614. The Inspired Way: Dru Wischhover on Building Businesses That Give Back
Transcript
- 0:10[SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the daily influence where our mission is to deliver a daily dose of positive influence that can uplift you personally or be shared within your sphere of influence.
- 0:20[SPEAKER_00]: While not every episode may directly apply to your unique circumstances, we strive to provide insights and inspiration relevant to most people's daily, weekly, and monthly lives.
- 0:30[SPEAKER_00]: Whether you are tuning in during the morning, noon or night, the daily influence is here for you.
- 0:35[SPEAKER_00]: Listen, share, and embrace the power of influence in your life.
- 0:40[SPEAKER_02]: Welcome to Daily Influence, I'm Greg Hulina.
- 0:42[SPEAKER_02]: Today we're joined by Drew Wishnover, a visionary entrepreneur, publish author, podcast host, and then a dynamic force behind inspired title group, inspired development group, and win inspired LLC.
- 0:56[SPEAKER_02]: With over two decades of leadership in the title insurance and real estate industry,
- 1:01[SPEAKER_02]: Drew embodies what it means to lead with intention and purpose.
- 1:05[SPEAKER_02]: Through his philosophy of the inspired way, his philanthropic initiatives and his dedication to mentorship Drew is creating meaningful change in business and in the community.
- 1:17[SPEAKER_02]: We're honored to explore his journey, impact
- 1:20[SPEAKER_02]: and insights on what it means to be a responsible influencer in today's world.
- 1:24[SPEAKER_02]: Drew, welcome to Daily Influence.
- 1:26[SPEAKER_01]: Thank you so very much for that great introduction.
- 1:29[SPEAKER_01]: I appreciate, you know, you take the time and, you know, let me do this with you guys today.
- 1:33[SPEAKER_01]: This is gonna be great.
- 1:34[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I'm so grateful you're here, Drew.
- 1:35[SPEAKER_02]: Can you share a bit about your background and what led you to where you are today with our listeners?
- 1:40[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, of course, I'd love to.
- 1:41[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, again, the name is Drew Wishover and I am the owner of a couple different businesses.
- 1:49[SPEAKER_01]: which is something we'll talk about here in a second.
- 1:53[SPEAKER_01]: I also own a development company and I am actually just starting my own not for profit and this is all kind of tied together and there's some synergies here.
- 2:04[SPEAKER_01]: So I started this journey through my dad.
- 2:09[SPEAKER_01]: And my dad actually was a title company owner.
- 2:13[SPEAKER_01]: He was a real estate attorney
- 2:16[SPEAKER_01]: He was, you know, really in this business, he's been in this business forever, and I sat back and, you know, you know, had different stints and working in the, in the business, but I never really, you know, stayed in it and did it until there was a time as, you know, I got older.
- 2:31[SPEAKER_01]: I started to work for in the financial space where I was a.
- 2:36[SPEAKER_01]: arbitrator for people who were broker dealers.
- 2:40[SPEAKER_01]: I help people set up broker dealers and then I would, you know, help them against the SEC if there's any troubles and any problems.
- 2:47[SPEAKER_01]: And then come, you know, the 2005, 2006 market.
- 2:52[SPEAKER_01]: I'm kind of predicting that this is going to go poorly things are not going to go well.
- 2:56[SPEAKER_01]: my dad at that time had a partner who was diagnosed with cancer and was kind of struggling and looking to fill that void.
- 3:04[SPEAKER_01]: And I'm kind of looking on the horizon going, all right, while the market is going to be for the financial space, this is going to be really weird.
- 3:12[SPEAKER_01]: And I saw the need to help my dad out for a stint.
- 3:16[SPEAKER_01]: So I left the firm, left my partner,
- 3:21[SPEAKER_01]: and Maccabrey everything was great and I got into the title space and it was kind of a shift that was, you know, totally different.
- 3:30[SPEAKER_01]: You know, you go from financial world where everything's fast-paced and everything's moving quickly to title insurance, which is not sexy.
- 3:36[SPEAKER_01]: There's no part of it that's sexy.
- 3:38[SPEAKER_01]: It's something that is just kind of part of a process when you buy a house, you know, you do you're closing with a title insurance company.
- 3:45[SPEAKER_01]: So I needed to really make that fun, I needed to make that my own, I needed to be involved in it in such a way that I can kind of mold myself through this.
- 3:56[SPEAKER_01]: So I wanted to get out from underneath the leadership of my dad and kind of start doing things myself.
- 4:03[SPEAKER_01]: So I started my own company.
- 4:05[SPEAKER_01]: and it was, you know, that's how inspired title was, was birthed and then I've always had the passion for construction and development that's what I've done for, you know, many years as a, as a young teen and into my early 20s.
- 4:19[SPEAKER_01]: So there's a lot of synergy between, you know, building houses and remodeling and things as well as doing the title and shares, you know, those two were pretty, you know, connected.
- 4:28[SPEAKER_01]: So,
- 4:29[SPEAKER_01]: I needed to stand out and I wanted to be different and I'm competing against all these big name companies like First American and Chicago title and I needed to find out what is that differentiator because I was tired of being compared to them and saying well you know how you guys any different what's different about what you do so that's where I added this piece to the philanthropy and that's where the not-for-profit came alive is.
- 4:52[SPEAKER_01]: we donate a portion of our proceeds from every transaction we do, every closing we do, we donate a portion of those proceeds to that math for profit.
- 5:00[SPEAKER_01]: It's pretty cool, it's pretty exciting, and it was the differentiator that kind of sent us apart from all these other big guys, because I was told by all the underwriters, like nobody else does that.
- 5:11[SPEAKER_01]: What are you doing?
- 5:13[SPEAKER_01]: And I was so excited to hear that because it is different, and it kind of being a small family
- 5:21[SPEAKER_01]: competing with the big guys isn't easy so that I mean that's my my story and a little nutshell.
- 5:26[SPEAKER_02]: That's a great story Drew.
- 5:28[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you for sharing it.
- 5:29[SPEAKER_02]: You know you're philosophy the inspired way emphasizes going above and beyond for clients community and your team.
- 5:36[SPEAKER_02]: How does this mindset influence the way you lead and make decisions daily?
- 5:40[SPEAKER_01]: This is a good question, Greg.
- 5:43[SPEAKER_01]: It's really the foundation of everything that I do.
- 5:46[SPEAKER_01]: And to me, leadership's not about having all the answers.
- 5:51[SPEAKER_01]: It's about setting a tone.
- 5:53[SPEAKER_01]: It's about culture for me.
- 5:55[SPEAKER_01]: So when I make decisions, I really ask myself, is this what I want to do?
- 6:01[SPEAKER_01]: Is this a choice?
- 6:02[SPEAKER_01]: And it means choosing integrity over convenience.
- 6:06[SPEAKER_01]: And you know,
- 6:07[SPEAKER_01]: kind of thinking about ego over gratitude or greed.
- 6:11[SPEAKER_01]: And I really want to kind of go through those things.
- 6:14[SPEAKER_01]: And I try to lead with the purpose.
- 6:17[SPEAKER_01]: Make sure that our clients are cared for.
- 6:19[SPEAKER_01]: The team is definitely taken care of.
- 6:21[SPEAKER_01]: And their valued, they feel like there's a sense of community and what we do every day here.
- 6:27[SPEAKER_01]: And when everybody operates and functions kind of together, it really works well and brings that culture together
- 6:37[SPEAKER_02]: I love that.
- 6:39[SPEAKER_02]: We need more leaders like you in the world.
- 6:40[SPEAKER_02]: I appreciate that.
- 6:42[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you.
- 6:43[SPEAKER_02]: Can you tell us about a moment of experience where you felt you made a positive impact on someone's life, whether through mentoring, business, or community work?
- 6:51[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, this is this is a tough question.
- 6:53[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, I
- 6:55[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, not because I can't think of any, but I think it's because there's there's so many.
- 7:00[SPEAKER_01]: And, you know, over the past 25 years, I've had the privilege of being, you know, a baseball coach for kids.
- 7:07[SPEAKER_01]: And I get a lot of, I've been blessed with the opportunity to.
- 7:11[SPEAKER_01]: be invited to, you know, their graduations and, you know, there's two of them in particular that they were the valedictorians of their class and they mentioned their experience of the travel baseball team and how much, how much of a difference that made in their lives because they were taught that, you know, through the game of baseball, the other life lessons that
- 7:35[SPEAKER_01]: could be learned.
- 7:37[SPEAKER_01]: And it was, I'm sitting in the audience and like tears are coming to my eyes and my wife is looking at me going, what do you, I'm going, did you hear what he just said?
- 7:45[SPEAKER_01]: He just was, he just pointed out a baseball reference that helped mold and shift his life in direction and he's the valetorian of the class.
- 7:56[SPEAKER_01]: Like, come on, it doesn't, it's just, it's so exciting to
- 8:05[SPEAKER_01]: mental health panels and donating these gifts in time to people in the community.
- 8:14[SPEAKER_01]: There are so many of them.
- 8:16[SPEAKER_01]: I'm just blessed and thankful for the gift that we have as a team to continue to do these kinds of things and make these impacts that we are.
- 8:25[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you for sharing that.
- 8:26[SPEAKER_02]: What a great story.
- 8:27[SPEAKER_02]: It sounds like not only did you in that baseball league have a positive influence on him, but also on you as well.
- 8:36[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, most definitely most definitely.
- 8:39[SPEAKER_01]: It just it's touched me and you know, the the thoughts of like I mean, that's why I do it.
- 8:45[SPEAKER_01]: Like it, you know, people say, you know, you give back and you don't give back with a, you know, a purpose or a, it's not selfish.
- 8:53[SPEAKER_01]: Well, there's a part of that that is because you do it because it does feel good and it does feel right, but it, you know, in that's okay.
- 9:00[SPEAKER_01]: You got, you got to give yourself that grace to know that.
- 9:02[SPEAKER_01]: what you're doing is okay, and you're not doing it for the selfless person that you are, you're, it's selfless, it's not selfish, and there is a difference.
- 9:13[SPEAKER_01]: And I think that people kind of misinterpret that sometime.
- 9:16[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, you know, I'm not doing it because I'm looking for something in return.
- 9:20[SPEAKER_01]: I'm doing it because of what I get in return from the way I feel.
- 9:24[SPEAKER_01]: And that's, I mean, that's amazing.
- 9:26[SPEAKER_01]: That is just amazing.
- 9:28[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, it's like it's priceless.
- 9:30[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.
- 9:31[SPEAKER_02]: In your book, the two hour difference, you outline five life lessons for helping kids lead extraordinary lives.
- 9:37[SPEAKER_02]: What inspired you to write it?
- 9:39[SPEAKER_02]: And how did these lessons translate into how you influence others today?
- 9:43[SPEAKER_02]: And maybe share what those five life lessons are?
- 9:46[SPEAKER_01]: Sure.
- 9:47[SPEAKER_01]: Sure.
- 9:47[SPEAKER_01]: You know, it's, um,
- 9:49[SPEAKER_01]: This is, I challenge myself every year with goals.
- 9:55[SPEAKER_01]: And for example, when I turned 50, one of my goals was to run the Chicago Marathon.
- 10:01[SPEAKER_01]: And people looked at me like, what do you crazy?
- 10:03[SPEAKER_01]: And I flip that conversation to, you know what?
- 10:06[SPEAKER_01]: I had a conversation with a colleague.
- 10:09[SPEAKER_01]: about, you know, the same conversation that I'm going to run this marathon.
- 10:12[SPEAKER_01]: And when I, you know, that he had asked me and I said, no, you know, we go every year, we've seen people and friends that have been doing it.
- 10:21[SPEAKER_01]: And you know, I'm watching, you know, it's such a uplifting thing.
- 10:24[SPEAKER_01]: I'm watching people, you know, that are, you know, they've got prosthetics and things like that.
- 10:29[SPEAKER_01]: And, you know, I said, we'll wait a minute.
- 10:33[SPEAKER_01]: I just said that these are people that have less, they're less fortunate to me and they're doing it.
- 10:38[SPEAKER_01]: Why the heck can't I do it?
- 10:40[SPEAKER_01]: So, you know, cut to Iran, the marathon, and you know, at 50, and it was just, it was one of the best things I've ever done.
- 10:46[SPEAKER_01]: So,
- 10:47[SPEAKER_01]: The years of the year of COVID came and I'm, you know, we're sitting in, we're locked around the house and I'm sitting around going, you know, I, I want to, I want to tell this story about my coaching and I want to, I want to bring this to, to people to let people know that there, it's more than just about baseball.
- 11:07[SPEAKER_01]: It's, it's more about, you know, teaching kids life lessons and, you know, what they can learn.
- 11:14[SPEAKER_01]: It's in how the game can be used for, you know, the learnings and in little nuances behind it, you can, you know, teach character and resilience, you know, somewhere along the way, I realized that something was is really powerful and in what I was writing this because.
- 11:33[SPEAKER_01]: This became the blueprint of my success story for leadership and mentoring and running businesses because I said, why am I making this harder?
- 11:46[SPEAKER_01]: Just do it like I do for,
- 11:49[SPEAKER_01]: baseball.
- 11:49[SPEAKER_01]: Like, you put the right kids at the right positions to complete and, you know, hopefully perform the best that they can.
- 11:56[SPEAKER_01]: How's that any different than business?
- 11:58[SPEAKER_01]: You know, why would I, why would I try to teach somebody something that that's not their skill set?
- 12:03[SPEAKER_01]: So, you know, concentrate on what their, what their skill set is.
- 12:07[SPEAKER_01]: So, it really, really, his, his kind of,
- 12:11[SPEAKER_01]: morphed into what is the blueprint for how I mentor, how I live for each day here at the office and how I kind of run and teach these businesses and it has been the book got tremendous
- 12:28[SPEAKER_01]: reviews from my colleagues and friends and things.
- 12:30[SPEAKER_01]: And again, I didn't write it to be a you know, best seller.
- 12:34[SPEAKER_01]: I wrote it for a lot of, it's broad from the categories of, you know, people who are trying to define what a good coach is.
- 12:42[SPEAKER_01]: There's a lot of single parents out there.
- 12:44[SPEAKER_01]: There's a lot of coaches that yell and scream at their kids.
- 12:46[SPEAKER_01]: And, you know, then there's the babysitter side where they just drop them off and let them go.
- 12:50[SPEAKER_01]: And I talk a lot about that and in different challenges in the book.
- 12:53[SPEAKER_01]: And so there's, you know, it's, it's got so many different
- 12:57[SPEAKER_01]: interesting stories of it that I think it just it touches a lot of different people and and I I'm again it was a it was a it was a it was a difficult right it was a it was an easy decision to say I want to do this and an easy goal to set but I'll tell you I think I'd run a marathon again before I write another book because it was it was I mean it really touched and just it really breaks you
- 13:24[SPEAKER_01]: deeply search into all of the different things that in emotions and try to remember all the different lessons that you taught and there are just so many great stories that came from it.
- 13:37[SPEAKER_01]: I'm so proud and blessed with the kids I coached and the friends that they've become even after.
- 13:46[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you for saying that.
- 13:47[SPEAKER_02]: We'll put a link in the show notes to the book.
- 13:49[SPEAKER_02]: Awesome.
- 13:50[SPEAKER_02]: Spire, title group, integrates philanthropy into every transaction by donating a portion of proceeds to where the causes.
- 13:58[SPEAKER_02]: What inspired this model and how do you think businesses can be more intentional about their social responsibility?
- 14:04[SPEAKER_01]: But it started in the beginning.
- 14:06[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, I knew that I didn't want inspired to be just another title company.
- 14:11[SPEAKER_01]: I wanted it to stand out.
- 14:13[SPEAKER_01]: I wanted it to be different.
- 14:14[SPEAKER_01]: I wanted it to be something bigger.
- 14:16[SPEAKER_01]: And for me, it was businesses can be a really powerful platform for making a difference.
- 14:25[SPEAKER_01]: And the simplest way to do that is
- 14:27[SPEAKER_01]: you know, giving back.
- 14:28[SPEAKER_01]: And I mean, it's just, it's in our DNA.
- 14:31[SPEAKER_01]: It's what we do.
- 14:32[SPEAKER_01]: And so every portion, every, every closing we do, I donate a portion of those of those proceeds to, no, what is now going to be our, our not for profit.
- 14:42[SPEAKER_01]: And it becomes a chance to impact the community.
- 14:44[SPEAKER_01]: We can make a difference.
- 14:46[SPEAKER_01]: So I, I'm starting heroes helping heroes, Illinois, which is a, you know, 501c3,
- 14:53[SPEAKER_01]: that is going to be, you know, we're acting as a resource for all these frontline workers, veterans, heroes, to come to to see if they need different resources for, you know, PTSD, or they need to, you know, go to therapy and talk to somebody.
- 15:14[SPEAKER_01]: They've got an issue with, whatever it is, we want to be that kind of connector.
- 15:19[SPEAKER_01]: So,
- 15:20[SPEAKER_01]: you know, I tell my team that doing good isn't just like part of our program.
- 15:26[SPEAKER_01]: It's it's our mindset.
- 15:27[SPEAKER_01]: It's what we do every day.
- 15:29[SPEAKER_01]: And you can take something that is not sexy.
- 15:32[SPEAKER_01]: You can take something that is, you know, that that you're gifted in blessed tip to be a business owner.
- 15:38[SPEAKER_01]: And you can turn it into doing something good.
- 15:41[SPEAKER_01]: And it really becomes contagious.
- 15:43[SPEAKER_01]: And I've seen that first hand
- 15:47[SPEAKER_01]: to get a buy-in from a few people in your office, that's good.
- 15:52[SPEAKER_01]: I have a buy-in from all of the team, because they just, they see the good that it does and the infectious personality that I continue to, to, you know, exude when I'm out there and I'm excitable and, you know, there's nothing better than seeing the results of your efforts and what it took, it didn't take much.
- 16:11[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, he didn't have to work hard to do it.
- 16:16[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, that's really contagious that energy that you have in that mindset that you have about helping others and bring in that that into your cultures amazing it is it's it's it's part of it's just kind of what the the seed I planted early and when I hire people when I look for when I when I hire people for sure it's great you know drew AI is a big topic these days how are you using AI?
- 16:39[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I think that right now AI is a big topic and AI is is something that is is kind of becoming part of every industry and right now what we're doing is we're finding ways to use it to help.
- 16:55[SPEAKER_01]: streamline and simplify our processes, you know, in real estate, and especially what we do, there is a human element that is very necessary, and I think it's something that will always be necessary, and I'm hoping that we don't lose that personal touch because,
- 17:11[SPEAKER_01]: It's such a relationship based business and I want to just continue to hang on and believe that it's going to stay there.
- 17:19[SPEAKER_01]: We can certainly use the tools in some of the functionality that will help us be more present to doing some of those things.
- 17:26[SPEAKER_01]: But I do see us, you know, we've migrated into using it to help
- 17:31[SPEAKER_01]: within our internal systems and some of our CRM systems where we don't have to do all of the data entry and we don't have to do some of the simple tasks.
- 17:43[SPEAKER_01]: So I think that as it kind of elevates into
- 17:47[SPEAKER_01]: what might be, you know, where people fear it's going to take, take over the jobs and things.
- 17:53[SPEAKER_01]: I don't, I don't feel that, and I'm pretty passionate about it that I don't feel that it's going to replace what we do in our business because
- 18:02[SPEAKER_01]: the human element of what we do is so necessary right now until it gets to another level, but we'll be able to at least oversee it and manage it, I think.
- 18:13[SPEAKER_01]: But we are using it because that's the only way we can stay competitive with the big guys too.
- 18:18[SPEAKER_01]: So, you know, having the differentiator and also staying competitive equally important in, you know, the world and industry we're in today.
- 18:25[SPEAKER_02]: So sure, thank you very sharing that true what message or words of encouragement would you like to share with our listeners who aspire to make a positive difference in the world no matter their role or industry?
- 18:36[SPEAKER_01]: It's a good question and I think I'll have to cough.
- 18:41[SPEAKER_01]: I would say you don't need to be
- 18:44[SPEAKER_01]: a big title or working in a huge name position to make a difference and to make an impact.
- 18:54[SPEAKER_01]: Every one of us, every single one of us has the ability to make a difference and it starts with the people right around us and it could be some kind words, it could be mentoring somebody, help that neighbor.
- 19:11[SPEAKER_01]: energy and I tell my team every day, you know, what are you guys going to do to make a difference in somebody's life and, you know, how are you going to make somebody's life better?
- 19:20[SPEAKER_01]: Because it's really the question.
- 19:22[SPEAKER_01]: It's about something bigger than us.
- 19:23[SPEAKER_01]: It always will be.
- 19:24[SPEAKER_01]: And it's the focus that I think is important.
- 19:27[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's, you know, when we put that in our, our, you know, mind and we make that that this is our kind of purpose.
- 19:36[SPEAKER_01]: I think it, it really does
- 19:39[SPEAKER_01]: the greater good of many.
- 19:42[SPEAKER_01]: I think consistency, I think you got to say consistent at what you're doing, you know, small actions over a period of time are always going to be a more effective than doing it once in a while.
- 19:52[SPEAKER_01]: I think you have to to can stay consistent.
- 19:56[SPEAKER_01]: And in your neck,
- 19:58[SPEAKER_01]: Right at the moment, it does take time for this kind of to build out and for this to really, you know, evolve into what you're creating and I think it's important to just stay at it and and you know, if you believe in it, go get it.
- 20:12[SPEAKER_02]: That's great advice through.
- 20:14[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you for sharing your journey, your purpose and your powerful commitment.
- 20:18[SPEAKER_02]: to leading with influence and integrity.
- 20:21[SPEAKER_02]: Your work shows us that success isn't just about business wins.
- 20:25[SPEAKER_02]: It's about how we use our platforms to uplift others and make a lasting difference.
- 20:30[SPEAKER_02]: If our listeners want to get in touch with you, what's the best thing to do so?
- 20:33[SPEAKER_01]: Absolutely.
- 20:34[SPEAKER_01]: I can be reached at, I'm on LinkedIn, which is, actually, my LinkedIn is Drew Wishover, just my name there.
- 20:45[SPEAKER_01]: We are inspired, hyphentitle.com is our website.
- 20:48[SPEAKER_01]: You could see all of our fun activities that we're doing there.
- 20:52[SPEAKER_01]: You know, you can always email me and we can put that in there as well.
- 20:56[SPEAKER_01]: But as DRU, at inspired, hyphentitle.com.
- 21:01[SPEAKER_02]: Great, true.
- 21:02[SPEAKER_02]: We'll put all that information on the show notes.
- 21:04[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you so much for joining us in sharing your story and advice.
- 21:07[SPEAKER_01]: Awesome.
- 21:08[SPEAKER_01]: It was great being here.
- 21:09[SPEAKER_01]: Thank you so much for taking the time and having me today.
- 21:11[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, as our pleasure and for our listeners, thank you for tuning in to daily influence.
- 21:16[SPEAKER_02]: May today's conversation inspire you to lead with intention, invest in others, and remember that even small actions can create a big ripple.
- 21:24[SPEAKER_02]: That's the true essence of responsible influence.
- 21:27[SPEAKER_02]: If today's episode brought you inside an inspiration or spoke to you, can you share it with someone who could use little positivity today?
- 21:35[SPEAKER_02]: Remember small actions, create big impact, showing up, reading and growing one day of time is all that it takes.
- 21:42[SPEAKER_02]: Until next time, stay inspired and keep having a positive responsible influence.
- 21:47[SPEAKER_02]: Bye-bye.