Special Guest Feature: Scott Backer | Purpose Fueled Eden Prairie
Scott has a simple equation he’s been trying to solve for years: EX + CX = ZX. Employee experience plus customer experience equals the whole picture.
He believes people are never the problem. The systems around them usually are. And he’s spent his career trying to prove that a solvable equation is more useful than blame.
This is him.
1. What do you actually do (in plain language), the way you’d explain it to a friend over coffee?
I seek to understand how it feels to be an employee of Ziegler, how it feels to be a customer of Ziegler, and bring the two sides together in actionable ways.
Simply put I’m trying to solve the equation EX+CX = ZX
2. What’s the moment or decision that changed the direction of your life or career?
The moment was when I fully embraced “Aspire. Connect. Create.” as my guiding principle. It opened up my world to be more expansive, for me to be more adaptable, and more authentic.
3. What do you believe about people that most others in your field don’t?
People are not the problem. The problem is the problem…which are more likely to be the result of systemic organizational failure.
4. What are you most proud of — in life, not just in work?
The person I get to be to my wife, my children, and grandchildren. To see the world through our collective lenses as I strive to be all I can for each of them.
5. What did you want to be when you grew up?
I didn’t really think much about it honestly…
6. How do your closest friends or family describe you? Who do they say you are?
That I’m someone who cares to care; who seeks to create possibility out of the unknown. Who is someone that can be counted on to find solutions.
7. What don’t people know about you that they should?
That behind the adapted extrovert they see in front of them lives an introverted autistic guy just trying to leave my piece of the world in a little bit better shape every day.
8. What does “purpose” mean to you personally?
To fulfill the potential I’ve been given. To exercise agency over my life so that all paths end up at the same point…Aspire. Connect. Create.
9. What’s the title of your next chapter — in life or in business?
“The 5 Year Revolution – Part 8…or is it 9? 10?”
9. What’s one thing you’re hoping people leave your conversation thinking about?
How they will tap into their own natural curiosity and just “go create” something as a result. Lean into the act of converting an idea, dream, etc into a reality. Ideally judgement free too!
10. What’s a question you wish more people would ask you?
How do you define success? Or conversely how do you define failure? (Hint: the answer is the same for both!)
About Scott
Scott is the Customer Experience Manager at Ziegler Companies. Connect with Scott on LinkedIn.
Join Us at Purpose Fueled
Conversations like this one happen every month at Purpose Fueled Eden Prairie, hosted by Jim Martin. If you want to be in the room for the next one, reserve your spot here.