Breaking the Treadmill Mentality: Inside Rob Poettgen’s Leadership Reset at Bordner Home Improvement
Bordner Home Improvement, a second-generation family remodeling business based in Kansas City, specializes in roofing, siding, windows, and bath remodels. When Rob Poettgen stepped up as president in 2019, he inherited a growing company, but also the mounting pressures of leadership isolation and operational chaos.
Before Acumen:
After Acumen
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Rob had recently taken over ownership from his father-in-law.
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The business was growing, but he felt isolated in decision-making.
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He was overwhelmed by daily problems, feeling the pressure to have all the answers.
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Leadership felt like a treadmill: constant motion but no strategic traction.
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He was working in the business, not on it.
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Created a clear, accountable leadership plan for generational transition.
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Gained access to a trusted peer network, leading to more confident decision-making.
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Developed better work-life balance and deeper alignment between business, faith, and family.
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Began leading with clarity, leveraging wisdom from peers instead of solving everything solo.
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Strengthened strategic thinking and avoided costly missteps by learning from others’ experience.
“You can become really comfortable with your own excuses. But when you have to give them up in front of high-level leaders whose opinions matter, that changes everything.” – Rob Poettgen
The Acumen Process
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1 Joined Acumen: After a pivotal conversation about the importance of “the wisdom of counselors."
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2 Participated in monthly Council meetings: A space to safely share challenges and receive trusted feedback.
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3 Engaged in one-on-one executive coaching: Which became a source of high-impact clarity and growth.
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4 Leveraged the Acumen network: Especially during the generational transition, drawing from others who had navigated similar challenges.
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5 Embraced community: Sharing both professional and personal life struggles for a more holistic leadership journey.
“The biggest ROI came when I brought our ownership transition issue to the group. I heard, ‘been through that,’ and got real counsel that made the transition smoother, even though it took longer than we planned.”
Rob’s journey with Acumen helped transform him from an isolated operator to a confident leader, grounded in faith, accountability, and community. The business didn’t just continue to grow—it grew with clarity and intention, allowing Rob to serve both his team and his family well.“There are a lot of groups that will tell you how to grow a business. But Acumen helped me grow it for my family—not in spite of them.”
Rob’s journey with Acumen helped transform him from an isolated operator to a confident leader, grounded in faith, accountability, and community. The business didn’t just continue to grow—it grew with clarity and intention, allowing Rob to serve both his team and his family well.“There are a lot of groups that will tell you how to grow a business. But Acumen helped me grow it for my family—not in spite of them.”