When our founder and managing partner Larry Connor says culture is everything, he means it.
That message came through loud and clear in a recent episode of The Learning Leader Show, a top-rated podcast focused on leadership, performance and personal growth. Larry sat down with host Ryan Hawk for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, high standards and the kind of mindset that builds a $5 billion company.
The episode gives a transparent look at how The Connor Group operates, including how we hire top talent, develop leaders and hold ourselves accountable.
“We don’t have a mission statement,” Larry said. “We have culture. And if you really live it, that’s all you need.”
Larry broke down our five core values and why they’re non-negotiable. He walked through our trait-based hiring process, including why we intentionally don’t bring in people from the real estate industry.
The episode also dug into Larry’s personal story, from early business failures to launching The Connor Group with no real estate background. Along the way, he became the first private citizen trained by NASA, spent 17 days aboard the International Space Station, and completed three research dives to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. The common thread in all of these endeavors is a commitment to achieving what others think is impossible.
“We don’t do things just to check a box,” Larry said. “Everything we take on, whether it’s business, space or research, has to be done at a high level and for a reason. Otherwise, what’s the point?”
That same mindset, intentional, disciplined, purpose-driven, is what shaped The Connor Group from day one. From how we develop our associates to how we measure performance, everything is built around high standards. The expectation is associates take ownership, solve problems and continuously improve.
“You can measure almost anything,” Larry said. “Customer service, productivity, ROI. We’ve done it. But the higher standard is how well you treat people. Have you helped others grow? Have you made a difference?”
That’s the heartbeat of The Connor Group: high performers driven by culture, accountability and the pursuit of excellence.
If you’re part of The Connor Group, this episode is worth your time. If you’re thinking about joining, it’s required listening.
You can listen to the full episode here: https://learningleader.com/larryconnor/ or wherever you get your podcasts.