Blog — Kayne Grau

LeadershipSeptember 11, 2026Latest

I Walked Into Prison With Judgment. I Walked Out With Perspective.

Today I walked into a prison for the first time. I had no idea how quickly my assumptions would disappear.

Tending the Fire

People will find their way to your fire at different times. Some stay for years. Some leave earlier than you expected. And a rare few will still be sitting beside you when the fire is nothing but glowing embers. Your job was never to make everyone stay. Your job is to tend the fire.

5 min read

Entrepreneurship

Regrets?? Never .. ever...

There was a time when eToys.com felt unstoppable. I was fortunate to be part of the very early stages of building what would become one of the most recognized online toy brands globally. Here's what that chapter taught me.

6 min read

Entrepreneurship

The Most Important Investor...

As entrepreneurs, we often talk about investors, risk, and conviction. But the most meaningful investor presentation I ever gave wasn't in a boardroom — it was within our home office.

4 min read

All Writing

LeadershipSeptember 1, 2026

Building a Customer Operating System

I keep coming back to this concept of building a Customer Operating System — not another piece of software, not a renamed customer service department, but an operating system that connects every part of the business around the customer.

Read — 6 min read

LifeAugust 27, 2026

Tending the Fire

Read — 5 min read

LeadershipAugust 11, 2026

Building Winning Teams .... and Why I'm Still Learning

I recently sat down with Rasmus Nielsen and Chris Michalak from Caliber Inc for an episode of Bourbon O'Clock. We had a bourbon, talked business, and spent a lot of time discussing something I think about almost every day: How do you actually build a winning team?

Read — 6 min read

LeadershipJune 23, 2026

In Person Wins Every Time...

We live in a world where nearly everything can be done digitally. But efficiency and connection are not the same thing. There is simply no substitute for sitting across the table from someone and having a real conversation.

Read — 4 min read

BusinessApril 24, 2026

One Year Later ...

Coming up on my one-year anniversary of acquiring United Transportation. The world has reminded me of something I think we all know, but don't always fully appreciate when things are running smoothly: STABILITY is TEMPORARY.

Read — 4 min read

LifeApril 3, 2026

The Small Details ...

For a long time, I believed I knew exactly what I was good at. Experience, however, has a way of forcing honesty. Some of the qualities I never fully valued in myself turned out to be far more powerful than I had given them credit for.

Read — 5 min read

EntrepreneurshipMarch 31, 2026

Regrets?? Never .. ever...

Read — 6 min read

LifeMarch 21, 2026

R&R

My first real vacation since acquiring United Transportation. You don't build something sustainable by never stepping away. You build it by creating a foundation strong enough to stand without you — even if it's just for a week.

Read — 3 min read

LifeMarch 5, 2026

Can you play golf this week?

Late last year, I made a call to a good friend and asked what I thought was a very simple question: "Can you go to Pebble Beach in a few days?" Sometimes the best moments aren't the ones you plan for months.

Read — 4 min read

Personal GrowthMarch 5, 2026

How to Fix Your Entire Life in ONE DAY…

I read a thought-provoking article over the holiday break titled "How to fix your entire life in one day." I was skeptical. I was wrong. Here's what it taught me about real change.

Read — 4 min read

LeadershipMarch 5, 2026

Employee Satisfaction @ United Transportation

Earlier this year, we conducted our first Employee Net Promoter Score survey at United Transportation. The results were incredibly encouraging. But what I've been most excited about is something even simpler: zero employee turnover.

Read — 5 min read

BusinessMarch 3, 2026

How We All Keep It Moving Forward

If I were to summarize the transportation sector in one statement, it would be: transportation is not trucks and warehouses. Rather, it's a non-stop, living, breathing ecosystem.

Read — 4 min read

LeadershipFebruary 3, 2026

Culture Isn't What You Say. It's What You Do.

Every leader talks about culture. But culture isn't built on words — it's built by behaviors. This year, I made a conscious decision to try something different for our employees.

Read — 5 min read

LeadershipDecember 23, 2025

Decisions to be made Today & Tomorrow

Taking over a business doesn't arrive with fireworks and a marching band. It shows up quietly — usually early in the morning — when you realize the decisions start before anyone else is awake and don't stop when the day ends.

Read — 5 min read

Personal GrowthDecember 10, 2025

Stop Chasing "Set for Life"

Have you ever said to yourself, "If I can do this, get this, have this — I will be set for life?" I have. Many times, over the past 30 years. Here's what I learned when I finally stopped.

Read — 5 min read

CommunityNovember 8, 2025

Walking Across Richmond with Pastor Corey Brooks: Two Days I Won't Forget

Over the last two days, I had the privilege of walking alongside Pastor Corey Brooks as part of his Walk Across America for Project H.O.O.D. There is something different about being shoulder-to-shoulder with someone on the road they've committed themselves to.

Read — 5 min read

EntrepreneurshipNovember 7, 2025

The Most Important Investor...

As entrepreneurs, we often talk about investors, risk, and conviction. But the most meaningful investor presentation I ever gave wasn't in a boardroom — it was within our home office.

Read — 4 min read

EntrepreneurshipNovember 7, 2025

Pivots ...

Just coming into my six month at United Transportation and things could not be better. While driving home one evening, I was reflecting on how I got here — 30 years of twists and turns that led to this moment.

Read — 5 min read

LifeNovember 7, 2025

Gather Round...

There's something timeless about a fire pit. It's more than warmth — it's a gathering place for thoughts, stories, and connection. Around a fire, solitude feels different.

Read — 3 min read

CommunitySeptember 23, 2025

Daydreaming with Project HOOD at NYSE

I received a call two days ago from my good friend, founder, pastor and mentor, Pastor Corey Brooks: "Hey Kayne, want to join us in NYC on Friday and ring the opening bell?" I am not sure that I allowed him to finish the sentence.

Read — 3 min read

EntrepreneurshipSeptember 23, 2025

Feels Amazing to be Back ...

It's been 30+ years working, learning, succeeding, failing, and gaining experience to finally do something on my own. I feel fortunate to finally become the sole owner of a company.

Read — 4 min read

Writing — Kayne Grau

I Walked Into Prison With Judgment. I Walked Out With Perspective.

Building a Customer Operating System

Tending the Fire

Building Winning Teams .... and Why I'm Still Learning

In Person Wins Every Time...

One Year Later ...

The Small Details ...

Regrets?? Never .. ever...

R&R

Can you play golf this week?

How to Fix Your Entire Life in ONE DAY…

Employee Satisfaction @ United Transportation

How We All Keep It Moving Forward

Culture Isn't What You Say. It's What You Do.

Decisions to be made Today & Tomorrow

Stop Chasing "Set for Life"

Walking Across Richmond with Pastor Corey Brooks: Two Days I Won't Forget

The Most Important Investor...

Pivots ...

Gather Round...

Daydreaming with Project HOOD at NYSE

Feels Amazing to be Back ...

I Walked Into Prison With Judgment. I Walked Out With Perspective.

Building a Customer Operating System

Tending the Fire

Building Winning Teams .... and Why I'm Still Learning

In Person Wins Every Time...

One Year Later ...

The Small Details ...

Regrets?? Never .. ever...

R&R

Can you play golf this week?

How to Fix Your Entire Life in ONE DAY…

Employee Satisfaction @ United Transportation

How We All Keep It Moving Forward

Culture Isn't What You Say. It's What You Do.

Decisions to be made Today & Tomorrow

Stop Chasing "Set for Life"

Walking Across Richmond with Pastor Corey Brooks: Two Days I Won't Forget

The Most Important Investor...

Pivots ...

Gather Round...

Daydreaming with Project HOOD at NYSE

Feels Amazing to be Back ...

I Walked Into Prison With Judgment. I Walked Out With Perspective.

Building a Customer Operating System

Tending the Fire

Building Winning Teams .... and Why I'm Still Learning

In Person Wins Every Time...

One Year Later ...

The Small Details ...

Regrets?? Never .. ever...

R&R

Can you play golf this week?

How to Fix Your Entire Life in ONE DAY…

Employee Satisfaction @ United Transportation

How We All Keep It Moving Forward

Culture Isn't What You Say. It's What You Do.

Decisions to be made Today & Tomorrow

Stop Chasing "Set for Life"

Walking Across Richmond with Pastor Corey Brooks: Two Days I Won't Forget

The Most Important Investor...

Pivots ...

Gather Round...

Daydreaming with Project HOOD at NYSE

Feels Amazing to be Back ...