---
title: "Growing with Purpose Podcast: \"Changing the Current\" with Ty Hagler"
description: On this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Ty Hagler about his transition from world-class flatwater kayaker to an entrepreneur and founder of Trig, an industrial design firm.
---

[Insight for Business Leaders Building Great Values-Driven Companies ](https://blog.smallgiants.org)

# [Growing with Purpose Podcast: "Changing the Current" with Ty Hagler](https://blog.smallgiants.org/growing-with-purpose-ty-hagler)

 Written by [Ty Hagler](https://blog.smallgiants.org/author/ty-hagler) | August 12, 2019

On this episode of the **Growing with Purpose podcast**, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Ty Hagler, founder and Principal of the industrial design firm, [Trig](https://trig.com). 

As a teenager volunteering at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, Ty was exposed to the sport of flatwater kayaking for the first time. That was the start of what became a decade-long career: Ty eventually grew into a world-class kayaker and was even an Olympic hopeful in 2004. But there comes a time when every athlete must retire, and when Ty hung up his paddle, he decided to return to earlier passions that he'd abandoned. An introvert with a passion for art, design, and engineering, Ty founded Trig in 2008. After years of running the business solo, he shifted his focus to building a team of aligned, inspired individuals and committed to a 100% virtual model. Changing the current isn't always easy, but it's a life skill that Ty has mastered better than most. 

After a decade as a world-class athlete, Ty realized that the same principles of discipline, processes, pragmatism, and persistence that are required for sport can also be applied to teams that lead innovation results. In this episode, you'll hear how Ty's lifelong curiosity allowed him to build an award-winning, virtual design firm. 

Tune in to Ty's story below: 

**Show Notes: **

**[6:00]** How Introverts Lead  
**[8:28] **A World Class Flatwater Kayaker  
**[15:23]** The Importance of Nailing the Start  
**[25:31]** Reinventing Yourself as an Entrepreneur   
**[29:35] **Committing to a Virtual Model  
**[36:27] **Why Leaders Need Empathy

 **Book that Influenced Ty's Leadership:  
**[*Good to Great *by Jim Collins](https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996/ref=sr_1_3?crid=BNFA6M5WKZ20&keywords=good+to+great+by+jim+collins&qid=1562612429&s=gateway&sprefix=good+to+great+%2Caps%2C294&sr=8-3)

 

 

[View full post](https://blog.smallgiants.org/growing-with-purpose-ty-hagler)

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