Staff Spotlight: Christine Rindfleisch, Independent Business Advisor

For more than 25 years, MBO has led the charge to keep the independent economy moving forward. And now we are thrilled to give you an exclusive look at the individuals who have made our company what it is today. We are happy to launch new series which highlights the team that power our platform, many of whom you’ve met, and others that we hope you’ll enjoy getting to know! Please enjoy our featured series: the Staff Spotlight.

This month we spoke to Christine Rindfleisch, an independent business advisor who helps our talent do the work they love, the way they want, each and every day. And if there’s one woman in our company who harnesses the fearless nature found in a song like Katy Perry’s Roar, it’s Christine! Read our exclusive interview with Christine to learn more about one of our most passionate, hardworking, and FEARLESS employees who help to make MBO what it is today.

Starting off one’s career is always filled with uncertainty and challenge. For most starting, out means going down winding roads of dabbling in different industries and deciding what’s really right for them. And while some may give up and settle in a career path they aren’t truly content with, Christine Rindfleisch did quite the opposite.

Instead of settling for an ‘all right’ career, Christine turned into a powerhouse and paved her way by fearlessly facing new challenges and opportunities within MBO. Along the way, she’s had ups, downs, and many lessons about how to know and work towards the industry that truly fits you.

In our exclusive interview, Christine shares all her advice, personal stories, and struggles on how to live life fearlessly. After reading her story, you’ll understand how she is without a doubt an inspiration for anyone entering the workforce.

First, we asked Christine if she had any advice for individuals entering the workforce and why MBO was the destination she chose. Her advice:

Trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, there is a reason for it. Prior to joining MBO, I interviewed at a couple of other organizations and each time something didn’t feel right but I still wanted the job just to ‘get my foot in the door’. I heard this advice often coming out of college, but looking back those roles were not ones I would have excelled in, let alone enjoyed. So glad I didn’t listen. I find myself extremely lucky to have landed where I am here at MBO.

Why did you want to work at a tech platform like MBO?

Every time I talk to an independent they make being self-emploeyd sound so appealing (but I do really like my job, I promise). I cannot count the number of times I’ve heard firsthand that by being independent, someone is making more money than they could have otherwise, able to spend more time with their families, and ultimately love what they do every day. That’s the future. To me, that’s what we all want in a career and strive to attain. And if I can support them in any way I feel that I can be a part of that future. 

What shaped why and how you got to be where you are today?

In 2018 I made the decision to focus on my health and wellness and lost 60 pounds. After making this personal change, all of the other aspects of my life fell into place. I found myself driven, happier, and focused. Without making this change I’m convinced I wouldn’t be in the role I am today or even at MBO for that matter.

Every career has challenges – what are yours?

The biggest challenge I have faced is taking on a role that was new to the organization. Unlike any of my other roles within the organization, this path hadn’t been paved yet and didn’t come with a ‘guide’ to follow. As someone who appreciates structure, I struggled with this path of the unknown. Thanks to a lot of trial and error a year later, the path is getting paved!

What personality trait makes you most effective in your current role?

Problem solver. When a mistake is made or something doesn’t go as planned I can effectively and efficiently find the source of the problem to correct it, ultimately preventing the same issues from recurring. 

All MBO Employees take the Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment upon starting at the organization. Those interested in learning more can purchase their own evaluation in our App Store.

How does problem-solving help you?

First, she said she is detail-oriented: I am a firm believer in double-checking your work. I think this has led to my ability to pay close attention to specifics to ensure accuracy. 

Her next strength, versatility, also strengthens her trait of problem solving: I didn’t realize this one until recently when I looked at my roles and responsibilities and saw how different they were. I am able to wear four different hats and tailor my approach to each on a daily basis.  

Now a hard one – what is your weakness?  

The first weakness she admitted to us about was the action to overanalyze: Sometimes I’ll take a simple problem and overthink and overanalyze the situation when it is unnecessary and usually not the best use of my time.

Following this, she opened up about struggling with being impatient at times: When trying to solve a problem I try to do so in a timely manner, and sometimes that leads to premature solutions that may not be the most effective. I’m learning that walking away and coming back with a fresh look is beneficial and provides a new outlook often. Sometimes being first isn’t always correct and taking the long view is the best option even if that means spending a little extra time on it. 

Nonetheless, when these weaknesses try to creep in. Christine leans back into her intention to problem solve and to play off her greatest strengths. She also admitted to us that she strives to always live up to one of MBO’s values. Which is to:

Live by the Golden Rule. Treating others the way I’d like to be treated was heavily valued in my upbringing so this value really resonates with me. In all encounters, whether internal or external, I try to be positive, attentive, and understanding. Externally, in frustrating situations presented by independents, I try to put myself in their shoes to understand if I were in their situation how would I want someone to respond and act to resolve the issue. 

What is your favorite part about coming to work?

I always say the thing I love most about my job is that each day is unlike the day before it! I appreciate a good challenge and to me, the unexpected the day brings keeps me on my toes. I would easily get bored if my job were repetitive.

After seeing how Christine never backs down from a challenge and conquers her fears we wanted to dig a little deeper and get more personal. She obliged.

How do you challenge yourself, inside and outside of work?

By saying yes to opportunities that scare me initially. Yes, I know I said I like challenges previously but we all get scared of things outside of our comfort zone, right? The role I am in today is vastly different from the role I started with MBO. I knew I could take the skills I obtained from my previous role and apply that to my new role but I also knew I had a lot to learn. No shame here in googling things I wasn’t too familiar with early in my new role. 

What about goals for the upcoming year?

Professionally I hope to become more confident in my advisory skills to independents, more educated on the independent consulting world, and improve upon my contract review knowledge. Personally, I hope to run a half-marathon and expand my garden.

Since all her answers and stories throughout the interview showcased her fearless nature, we wanted to know if she had a hero in her life or someone she admired. Her answer: My Dad!

My dad inspired me to pursue a degree in Communication Studies and looking back this was easily the best decision I’ve ever made. He taught me how important it was to be able to effectively communicate with others and to speak up. He taught me that in everything I do in life, both professionally and personally, to “encourage, believe and smile”. 

Finally, we asked her what hobbies she has outside her work-life.

In my free time, I enjoy running, baking, gardening, and walking with my dogs. Anyone that knows me knows how important my dogs are to me. They’ll sit next to my desk the whole day so just know if you are talking to me during the day chances are my two “assistants” are here listening next to me. I’d love to rescue as many as I can during my life. During quarantine, I learned how to make cinnamon rolls from scratch which will now be a Christmas morning staple. Last spring I dove into gardening and after a lot of trial and error, my tomato plant seems to be my most successful yet. Plus trips to the greenhouse are a cheap therapy session if you ask me. 

By the end of our time with Christine we had one last question we were dying to ask.

What we wanted to know was what her dream career or future plans looked like to her. Since she approaches her life with bold confidence, we had to know “What’s Next?”

Right now that image is a little foggy. I respond better to short-term goals that act as stepping stones to long-term goals. I always say if I am in a role that at the end of the day I’ve helped at least one person, I’m doing alright. On a personal note, if you were to have asked me this when I was younger I would have said, hot pink limo driver. Maybe I knew back then I wanted to serve others. 

Eager to learn more about or submit a member of the MBO team for a future spotlight? Drop us a line and share your suggested submission. We’ll continue this series throughout 2021 and beyond.