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PODCAST

Unlocked Podcast

Chad Lingafelt, Tony Hokanson, Lars Johnston

Three business owners, spanning North Carolina, Minnesota, and Alberta, Canada, have joined forces to create Unlocked Podcast. Their mission? To share their insights on building enduring businesses that thrive for generations to come.

business entrepreneurship

All Episodes

01:10:21

Specialist vs. Generalist - Revisited (Episode 74)

Unlocked Podcast ·

2026/04/16

In Episode 74, the Unlocked trio—Chad (Loc-Doc Security), Tony (Assured Security), and Lars (Calgary Lock & Safe)—engage in a high-stakes debate over the future of security sales. Fresh off a trip to Las Vegas for ISC West, Chad proposes a radical shift: abandoning the generalist model in favor of "micro-business centers" where salespeople specialize in single disciplines like video, access control, or doors and frames.Tony pushes back hard, arguing that specialization can alienate

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01:07:14

Orchestrating Organic Opportunities (Episode 73)

Unlocked Podcast ·

2026/04/09

In Episode 73, Tony (Assured Security), Lars (Calgary Lock & Safe), and Chad (Loc-Doc Security) tackle the challenge of growing organically by capturing large-scale projects. The trio explores tactical ways to move beyond basic break-fix service calls and into the world of $50,000+ contracts.Chad reveals the "Association Strategy," explaining why trade associations are the key to finding ideal customers where they actually hang out. Lars shares his "Skywalker" approach to

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00:58:39

Leveling Up with System 1 and System 2 Thinking...

Unlocked Podcast ·

2026/04/02

In Episode 72, the Unlocked trio—Tony (Assured Security), Lars (Calgary Lock & Safe), and Chad (Loc-Doc Security)—dive into the psychology of decision-making. Inspired by the work of Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman and sage advice from "Uncle Glenn," they explore System 1 (Fast/Habitual) and System 2 (Slow/Analytical) thinking.The guys discuss how to use "Level 2" brainpower to architect "Level 1" processes that run on autopilot, freeing up mental energy for

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01:12:19

Navigating the Messy Middle (Episode 71)

Unlocked Podcast ·

2026/03/26

In Episode 71, Chad (Loc-Doc Security), Tony (Assured Security), and Lars (Calgary Lock & Safe) dive into the psychological and operational warfare of "The Messy Middle." Inspired by Scott Belsky’s framework, the trio explores the volatile space between the dopamine-heavy start of a project and the satisfaction of the finish line.The conversation gets tactical as they discuss how to distinguish a "false positive"—like a lucky $1.2 million contract—from a truly scalable

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01:10:47

12 Must-Read Books for Scaling Leaders (Episode 70)

Unlocked Podcast ·

2026/03/19

Buckle up for Episode 70, where the trio takes on an Instagram-inspired "Blind Rank" challenge that nearly breaks the podcast. Tony (Assured Security) forces Lars (Calgary Lock & Safe) and Chad (Loc-Doc Security) to rank a list of 12 business and philosophy books without knowing which title is coming next.The result is a chaotic, high-stakes debate over the industry's most influential texts. From the "broccoli" of 4 Disciplines of Execution to the transformational power

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00:51:15

The Art of Quitting: 9 Habits to Kill for Business...

Unlocked Podcast ·

2026/03/12

As we move through the first quarter of 2026, the Unlocked trio—Chad from Loc-Doc Security, Tony from Assured Security, and Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe—flip the script on traditional goal setting. Instead of focusing on what to add to their lives, they dive deep into what they need to quit.The conversation gets raw as Lars opens up about the danger of "ruminating" on past mistakes and his journey toward finding a partner and prioritizing health. Tony discusses the "nice vs

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00:57:47

The Culture Compound: Protecting Values Through...

Unlocked Podcast ·

2026/03/05

In Episode 68, the Unlocked trio—Chad from Loc-Doc Security, Tony from Assured Security, and Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe—tackle the most important asset any company owns: its culture. They dive deep into why culture isn't just a "vibe" but a set of sacred standards that must be protected with aggressive consistency.Chad shares the "Dabo Swinney" inspired strategy of an Annual Reset, where every employee—from the 20-year veteran to the rookie—re-onboards each January to

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01:08:23

System Over Motivation: Master Your Time and Calendar...

Unlocked Podcast ·

2026/02/27

In Episode 67, the trio tackles one of the most critical challenges for any entrepreneur: moving from a reactive "firefighting" mindset to proactive leadership. Tony (Assured Security) kicks things off by operating from a backup computer with no passwords and slow internet—a real-time lesson in why systems matter when things go sideways.Lars (Calgary Lock & Safe) pulls back the curtain on his recent transformation, explaining why he has replaced "motivation" (which is

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01:03:19

The Unique Factor: A Leadership Therapy Session...

Unlocked Podcast ·

2026/02/19

In Episode 66, Lars Johnston from Calgary Lock & Safe challenges the trio to get vulnerable with a high-stakes leadership exercise: identifying their "Uniques." Moving past typical corporate bios, Chad (Loc-Doc Security), Tony (Assured Security), and Lars reveal the honest, sometimes uncomfortable feedback they received from their teams and families.The conversation dives into the "Shadow Side" of leadership—how a strength like being a "calm problem solver" can

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00:58:58

Organic AI Adoption? (Episode 65)

Unlocked Podcast ·

2026/02/12

In Episode 65, Chad, Tony, and Lars explore how business owners can turn unexpected chaos into operational gold. When a rare North Carolina snowstorm threatened to derail a week of factory training for the Calgary team, the hosts pivoted to an impromptu Technician Exchange Program. They discuss the massive "ROI of fresh eyes" when a guest technician shadows your team and provides an unfiltered perspective on your culture and workflows.The conversation then shifts to the "Invisible

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01:03:23

The Delegation Paradox: Staying Engaged Without...

Unlocked Podcast ·

2026/02/05

In Episode 64, the Unlocked trio—Tony from Assured Security, Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe, and Chad from Loc-Doc Security—dive into the tricky middle ground of business leadership: When to NOT Delegate.After spending previous episodes discussing how to find the "Who" and master the art of letting go, the conversation shifts to the pitfalls of over-delegation. Tony explores the "fine line" between empowering a leadership team and completely checking out. They discuss why a

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01:11:19

Selling Sales to Your Salesmen: Compensation, Hiring,...

Unlocked Podcast ·

2026/01/29

In Episode 63, the Unlocked Podcast shifts focus from "low tide" excuses to high-level Sales Management. Lars Johnston from Calgary Lock & Safe leads a candid discussion with Tony (Assured Security) and Chad (Loc-Doc Security) about the hardest sale a leader makes: getting the sales team to buy into a proactive process.Tony reveals how intentional hiring—specifically finding five key "Whos"—transformed his organization in 2025. The conversation dives deep into the psychology

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01:05:51

Building Habits for a Successful 2026 (62)

Unlocked Podcast ·

2026/01/22

In this episode, the team dives into the specific habits and systems required to turn 2026 goals into reality. Tony from Assured Security admits that while he used to struggle with organizational details, he has found success by building a "rigid morning routine" and committing to reading physical books for creative spark.Chad from Loc-Doc Security shares a deep look into how he uses Vistage summaries to document successes, fighting the entrepreneurial urge to always move "onto the

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01:03:23

Strategic Selling: Unlocking Growth by Converting...

Unlocked Podcast ·

2026/01/15

In the first official deep dive of 2026, the Unlocked Podcast team explores a game-changing sales strategy: shifting high-ticket security solutions from Capital Expenditures (CapEx) to Operating Expenses (OpEx). Chad from Loc-Doc Security, Tony from Assured Security, and Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe break down why large, six-figure proposals often stall in today’s economic climate. The hosts explain that while security and key systems are vital, they often fall to the bottom of a client's

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01:01:49

2026 Strategy: Operational Spring Cleaning

Unlocked Podcast ·

2026/01/08

Welcome to the first episode of 2026! We have officially hit Episode 60, and to celebrate this milestone, the team is pulling back the curtain on the "magic" that keeps the Unlocked Podcast consistent. Chad Lingafelt from Loc-Doc Security, Tony Hawkenson from Assured Security, and Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe discuss the discipline required to stay weeks ahead of their recording schedule to ensure they never miss a release for their listeners.This episode features a look at real-time

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00:59:14

2025 Successes: Reflection, Discipline, and Leveling...

Unlocked Podcast ·

2025/12/18

As the year comes to a close, the hosts take a moment for reflection—a crucial and often overlooked discipline for busy entrepreneurs. Tony from Assured Security shares his pride in the team's resilience, detailing how they rebounded from a rocky start and layoffs to achieve their highest-ever sales quarter. Chad from Loc-Doc Security opens up about his personal commitment to discipline, linking his 109-day Apple Watch fitness streak to the perseverance required for tough business decisions. He

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00:58:11

Post-Conference Paralysis: How to Prioritize Your...

Unlocked Podcast ·

2025/12/12

Do you return from every conference or book with a notebook full of ideas only to suffer from "whiplash" and implement nothing? Tony from Assured Security admits this struggle with prioritization, often running after the "latest and greatest thing" instead of focusing on high-impact projects. This episode addresses the two extremes: doing nothing, or trying to do everything at once. Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe shares his practical process after the recent Brevo/Eagle Eye

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01:13:48

Vertical Market Strategy: Defining Your Focus for Scale

Unlocked Podcast ·

2025/12/04

Are you spreading your business too thin by trying to be "all things to all markets"? This episode dives into the critical strategy of defining your ideal vertical market for growth. Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe, Tony from Assured Security, and Chad from Loc-Doc Security discuss how market focus—whether it’s residential, commercial, or multifamily—requires a completely different skill set, discipline, and product offering. Chad explains his company's intentional decision to

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00:49:17

Business Strategy Shifts: Leveraging Technology and...

Unlocked Podcast ·

2025/11/20

After spending a day immersed in the Cloud Security Summit in Austin, Texas, Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe, Tony from Assured Security, and Chad from Loc-Doc Security share their biggest takeaways and action items. The conversation focuses on leveraging technology, shifting business models, and identifying new opportunities within the security space. Tony highlights the power of a unified platform to simplify the purchasing process and make security a proactive operational tool rather than just

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00:55:22

Processing the Process (55)

Unlocked Podcast ·

2025/11/13

Do your business processes feel more like a tangled web of handcuffs than a straight path to profit? In this episode, Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe, Tony from Assured Security, and Chad from Loc-Doc Security dive into the pain point of process over-complication. They discuss how businesses naturally add steps and standardization to solve an occasional edge case (a 1-in-100 failure) or to dummy-proof a system, resulting in processes that waste time and impede customer service.The hosts share real

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75 results

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