The “Why” Behind TRC Nexus

From the Desk of Mike Rusher, President, The Results Company

First, thank you.

Thanks to many of you reading this, TRC Nexus has grown significantly over the past two years. With that growth comes the need to revisit and retell our “origin story” – a reminder of why we do what we do.

This product is a public service of The Results Company, one that directly aligns with our company’s vision: North Carolina is a state where businesses and citizens maximize economic and educational opportunities to prosper in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

As you read on, you may think of colleagues who would benefit from a publication driven by these guidewires. If so, please forward this along and encourage them to sign up.

The Leadership That Started It All
Seven years ago, a group of influential business leaders gathered in Burlington for a series of candid, in-depth conversations. One of the concepts put on the table was a way to deliver need-to-know information to executives. TRC stepped in to execute on that vision, and TRC Nexus was born.

North Carolina has always been shaped by leaders willing to step up and engage. Their decisiveness made all the difference.

I recalled this just last week when reflecting on a book by Clay Scroggins that I happened to be reading in 2018, the same time we were developing TRC Nexus. In one chapter, Scroggins described two types of leaders:

• Kabash Leaders – They cultivate, organize, and structure goals and ambitions in a way that allows others to grow and thrive.
• Kibosh Leaders – They introspectively shut things down, stifle ambitions, hinder progress of those around them, or withdraw.

The difference is striking though their spelling is close. Kibosh leaders serve themselves, suppressing others’ ambitions. Kabash leaders organize, steward, and elevate those around them. TRC Nexus is a direct result of kabash leadership – business leaders stepping up to help other leaders succeed.

This commitment to serving executives is what makes TRC Nexus different. It’s what continues to drive us today.

You’ll hear from many of those leaders this year, just as you heard from several recently:

• Kelly King, retired CEO of Truist Financial, penned an explainer on NCInnovation’s vision, mission and benefits.
• Allen Gant, Jr., Chairman of Glen Raven, provided a look at the North Carolina Marine and Estuary Foundation which is promoting world class fisheries and thriving coastal economies in North Carolina.
• Stan Kelly, former Chairman and President of the Piedmont Triad Partnership, helped produce our origin story on the Carolina Core.
• Bubba Rawl and Tim Smith, co-founders of Preston Development, shared their story as visionaries of Chatham Park for us. 
• Allen Gant, Jr. also wrote an insightful piece on school choice and the need to expand opportunity scholarships (in 2021).

Delivering the News Leaders Need
The demand for clear, unbiased news for business leaders has never been greater. The numbers speak for themselves:

• Gallup recently found that only 17% of Americans have high confidence in newspaper reporters.
• That number drops to just 13% for TV journalists.
• Overall, 69% of Americans have little to no confidence in the media to report fair, full, and accurate information.

Media outlets aren’t focused on equipping business leaders with the insights they need. That’s where TRC Nexus comes in. We provide:

• Morning Updates – A quick, digestible briefing to start the day informed.
• Afternoon Views – Curated opinion pieces reflecting topics important to C-suites across the state.
• Saturday Thought Pieces – Original, thought-provoking columns designed to inform, challenge, and inspire executives.

We’re always open to feedback and suggestions – they shape what we do.

A Referral-Driven Network
This newsletter grows because of readers like you. TRC Nexus is built for business leaders who care about North Carolina’s future and want to stay ahead with direct, no-spin insights.

If this resonates with you, please forward this email to a colleague and encourage them to sign up.

As always, thank you for reading. See you next Saturday.

Onward!


Mike Rusher
President, The Results Company