From Lonely Leadership to Thriving Legacy: How Acumen Helped a CEO Save His Family Business—and His Relationship With His Dad
Rusty was the CEO of Meyer Laboratory, a direct-to-industry manufacturer of bulk cleaning chemicals, serving clients across North America. When he first connected with Acumen, he was running a fast-growing company—but doing it alone. What started as a conversation about youth ministry unexpectedly led to an 8-year journey that transformed his leadership, business, and personal life.
Before Acumen:
After Acumen
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At odds with his co-founder and father, straining both business and personal relationships
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CEO of a successful, growing chemical manufacturing business
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Had never heard of executive peer groups
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Felt lonely and isolated in leadership, despite company success
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Lacked guidance and a trusted circle to help navigate complex business decisions
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Leadership development was limited to podcasts and self-study
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Saved his relationship with his father, preserving their 50/50 business partnership
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Business grew 4x in revenue and doubled in headcount over 8 years
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Implemented structured frameworks like EOS and Culture Index
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Developed deeper patience, confidence, and clarity as a leader
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Strengthened the executive team and invited key leaders into Acumen groups
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Created space to lead with integrity, faith, and excellence
“If it wasn’t for Acumen, I wouldn’t have a relationship with my dad today. That one thing probably saved us millions.” - Rusty Meyer
The Acumen Process
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1 Joined Acumen’s monthly peer advisory group (Council) for leadership development
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2 Found mentorship and accountability among faith-driven business leaders
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3 Built deeper relationships through Outbounds and shared experiences
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4 Brought executive team members into Acumen for aligned leadership growth
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5 Adopted peer-recommended systems like EOS and Culture Index to improve operations
Rusty’s 8-year journey with Acumen did more than improve a business—it transformed his life. Surrounded by peers who understood both the pressure of leadership and the importance of faith, he found clarity, community, and the confidence to lead well. His company thrived, his team matured, and most importantly, he walked away with something no ROI can capture: a restored relationship with his father.
“I would have forfeited my whole relationship with my dad over one point on a loan. Now, looking back, that’s so stupid. But the guys in my group talked me off that cliff. That’s the real ROI.”
Rusty’s 8-year journey with Acumen did more than improve a business—it transformed his life. Surrounded by peers who understood both the pressure of leadership and the importance of faith, he found clarity, community, and the confidence to lead well. His company thrived, his team matured, and most importantly, he walked away with something no ROI can capture: a restored relationship with his father.
“I would have forfeited my whole relationship with my dad over one point on a loan. Now, looking back, that’s so stupid. But the guys in my group talked me off that cliff. That’s the real ROI.”