Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dave Pygon. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Dave, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

After over two decades of leading teams, and working for three large organizations in different capacities I decided to go for it, I bet on myself. The summer of 2022, I started my own consulting company, Pygon ONE Consulting, began writing a book called, “Win the 16” – Principles and Strategies to Optimize your Day, and lastly created a podcast, Win the 16.

In the past, I made all the excuses on why not to start a company, and write a book whether it was time, money, family, etc. Ultimately, I just made excuses. In the summer of 2022, it was time to say, enough is enough. NO REGRETS! Go for it! Take a chance on doing something special by becoming a small business owner, writing a book, and creating your own podcast. I viewed this as a BOLD move leaving a company, Alcon that I respected and knew very well since I worked for them for twenty-four years. They are a high-quality organization with wonderful people. I just knew, it was time. My thought-process was, if I don’t do it now when will I ever do it? I have prepared for this moment for years with my leadership, and consulting roles. The time was now.

I will fast forward a year and a half later. Pygon ONE Consulting is growing every month, and every quarter with many clients such as Merrill Lynch, CDW, Baush & Lomb, Crown holdings, Novartis, Electric motors and others. The book was published May 1st, 2023 and the sales have been outstanding with even better news, which is the feedback on the book itself has been wonderful, and inspiring. People are getting value from the book to help them become there best self. Lastly, the Win the 16 podcast, which is co-hosted with my brother, Dr. Bud Pygon, has been very successful with over 30 episodes, and we are now being listened to in six different continents.

In closing, I am not finished growing, learning, and succeeding with Pygon ONE Consulting, Win the 16 book, and Win the 16 podcast. We have just begun the journey. Wonderful things are ahead.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I, Dave Pygon, worked for three major corporations since graduating Northern Illinois University in 1991 where I played basketball my first year of college, and graduated with a Political Science degree, and minor in Economics.

Automatic Data Processing hired me on campus my senior year in college. They were pivotal in my growth as a businessman, and salesman because they trained, and taught me how to sell as well as be a professional businessman. This was the main reason, I wanted to work for them.

After three years of selling for ADP, I jumped in health-care. It was time to learn a new business, technology, and industry. It turned into being a smart move because I spent the next 29 years working for Alcon and Novartis. They were similar to ADP in this sense, they had a culture of development, and learning. Alcon and Novartis made me better. I bundle those two organizations together because Novartis purchased Alcon at one-time. Over two decades of my experience is in leadership roles plus almost three years of consulting.

I decided to start Pygon ONE Consulting in 2022 because my superpower is the hard stuff – “soft skills”. Specifically, my expertise is leadership development, efficiency, effectiveness, and improving communication.
Some organizations, and people find these skills to be painful, and challenging. They understand it’s affecting results, performance, development, and culture. The companies know, if we don’t invest in it, we will not optimize our people and performance. Many of the companies, Pygon ONE Consulting works with are very good. They just see an opportunity to be even better or desire specific areas of pursuit they want to focus on with an outside expert. The difference-maker for Pygon ONE Consulting is a couple items, and they are the following:
– Practical real-world experience and expertise in these skills
– Performance-results driven (client has to develop when we work together – commitment)
– Passion and energy for development
– Systematic method and plan that organizations can implement
– Customization to the client and follow-up

Pygon ONE Consulting is most proud that we can share with clients our methods to leadership development, efficiency, effectiveness, and winning your waking sixteen hours is real and you can benefit from it. We can prove that by the published book, Win the 16: Principles and Strategies to Optimize your Day, and the many testimonials from organizations you can develop your people even more, increase bottom-line results, and make your culture even better. If an organization, and individual desires to improve performance in areas such as leadership development, time management, efficiency, effectiveness and communication for optimal success Pygon ONE Consulting promises to make you better than you were yesterday. We have the experience, PASSION and ENERGY for it plus we have many companies and people that will tell you themselves it works. Pygon ONE Consulting delivers results.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

It’s the summer of 2022, and you just resign from a wonderful company and six-figure job to start back at square one. No income coming in, no clients yet, no one calling you, no employees or boss calling you. No experience starting my own company. You realize, you are on your own. It’s all you. Where do I begin? How I do get a TAX ID, LLC, website, trademark, write curriculums, starting branding the company, opening up bank accounts, marketing strategy, budget, book chapters, podcast name, podcast format/technology. Who is going to help? Who is going to do all this?

I realized very quickly, it’s now up to me. I uncovered I knew many smart people in my inner-circle. I had to hire some people to help with marketing, and trademarking and a few other items. I learned quickly when you write a curriculum and days on it, then realize a week later, it wasn’t your best work. You need to delete it. Resiliency was not only part of being a president of your own company, it was going to be a key element of success. I am not sure how you start a company, write a book, and podcast all within 10 months without resiliency and discipline. The initial website and logo were fine, but quickly realized that needs to be changed. In writing the book at times, I would write a chapter and realize I need to delete it. You have no idea how painful that is to do after spending so much time, and energy on writing a chapter only to realize it’s not good enough.

Pygon ONE Consulting, and the book, Win the 16: Principles and Strategies are not here today without resiliency and discipline. It’s two of the key elements to success for me.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The most effective way for growing clientele is networking, and putting yourself out their on social media consistently. Networking for Pygon ONE Consulting is everyday, I have committed to networking and talking to people I am not currently doing business with at that moment everyday. This ensures, I never stop having conversations with people that could be clients at some point. How to network? – Social media (consistent presence)
– Past professionals you worked with
– Asking for referrals and introductions from people you know or meet
– Joining networking groups, and other organizations
– Podcast interviews
– Publish articles

Contact Info:

• Website: https://pygonone.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pygonone
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davepygon/edit/forms/intro/new/?profileFormEntryPoint=PROFILE_SECTION
• Other: https://winthe16.org/ Dave Pygon President Pygon ONE Consulting [email protected]