Wiechart speaks on Aileron’s impact on his small business
Eric Wiechart spoke about small business development with Aileron on Monday during the Lima Rotary Club’s meeting at the Civic Center in Lima.
Cade Higgins | The Lima News
LIMA — It is safe to say that Clay Mathile, founder of Aileron, played a pivotal role in the life of Eric Wiechart and his daughter, Ann Welly.
More than 10 years ago, Wiechart was first introduced to Aileron, which helps business owners grow in professional management when he attended a workshop known as Course for Presidents, with questions surrounding the future of his small business, All Service Glass, and his daughter, Ann, potentially taking over.
“I was the kind of guy that before that thought things should just happen,” Wiechart said during a presentation Monday to the Lima Rotary Club at Veterans Memorial Civic Center. “That was the first time someone smacked me in the face and said it wouldn’t be easy,” he said.
“The first day you feel like you’re drinking from a firehose,” Wiechart said about the two-day workshop. “The other thing that happens to you is that you’re in there with a lot of other businesses, and you realize that the grass isn’t always greener, that everybody has issues running a business.”
During the second day, Wiechart asked a question to Mathile about his daughter taking over the business.
“My daughter is in the business, and she’s considering buying it. I just want to know your perspective and what you think I need to be working on,” said Wiechart to Mathile.
“Literally he took his glasses off and threw them on the table in front of him, and he stared at the camera and said, ‘It’ll be the hardest thing you’ve ever done.’”
Working with Aileron, Wiechart and Welly came up with workshops and coaching to successfully transition ownership over to her.
“We set up a strategy for one to three years,” he said. “I didn’t feel comfortable turning it over to her unless it was running pretty well.”
Identifying goals and desired outcomes played a huge role in the transition. Not only did they develop healthy communication, but they also provided challenges within the business, both individually and as a team. Welly took over as president in November of 2014.
Wiechart now serves as a business and leadership coach with Aileron. He touched on where he’d be today if he never asked Mathile the question.
“I’d probably still running All Service Glass, and Ann would be miserable,” he said.
Reach Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351
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