What does a crisis reveal about the way you make decisions under pressure?
As Paul TenHaken built a thriving digital agency and later became mayor of Sioux Falls, the outside story looked like momentum, influence, and achievement. But underneath it lay cash flow panic, purpose stagnation, and the weight of stepping into public leadership. A meaningful conversation with his wife, a political smear days before an election, and the uncertainty of leading through COVID forced him to confront what leadership costs when the money, reputation, and answers are no longer guaranteed. You’ll hear how Paul moved from success to significance, learned to lead without control, and rebuilt his view of work around calling, community, and the greater good.
Paul TenHaken is an entrepreneur, public servant, and leadership speaker who served as mayor of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Before entering public office, he founded and grew a successful digital marketing agency, where he experienced the highs and pressures of entrepreneurship firsthand. As mayor, Paul brought a business-minded but people-first approach to city government, using EOS principles to improve accountability, meeting structure, and team alignment.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
00:01:30 — Why fast growth can still leave an entrepreneur wondering if it’s time to quit and go back to a salary
00:04:23 — How one billing mistake turned Paul’s digital agency into a bank for his clients
00:05:18 — Why success, income, and flexibility still left Paul feeling unfulfilled
00:07:31 — How writing his own obituary helped Paul confront the difference between success and significance
00:10:49 — Why your job title can change while your calling stays the same
00:15:18 — Why entrepreneurs are ultimately remembered for people and relationships more than profit or performance
00:22:51 — How Paul brought EOS into city government to create clearer goals, stronger meetings, and real accountability
00:38:07 — What Paul learned when public attacks, COVID, and crisis leadership pushed him to the edge
Learn more about Paul TenHaken:
https://www.siouxfalls.gov/government/council/council-members/paul-tenhaken
Get a grip on your business with Traction by Gino Wickman—the proven system to help you gain clarity, accountability, and results:
https://www.eosworldwide.com/traction-library
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This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/
