GROW by Design

When business feels overwhelming, it can be easy to see pressure, uncertainty, financial stress, and setbacks as signs that you're about to break. But what if those moments are actually building you?

In this short, punchy episode, the focus is on reframing the hardest moments in business. The pressure you're experiencing isn't necessarily happening to you, it may be shaping you into the person capable of handling what's next.

Every difficult situation you survive builds resilience. Every time you make it through something that once seemed impossible, you prove to yourself that you can handle more...

Are you constantly busy but still feel like you're not making meaningful progress?

In this episode of Grow By Design, we dive into one of the most powerful productivity systems every entrepreneur and business owner should master: time management through intentional prioritization.

You'll learn why being busy doesn't equal being productive, how time blocking can transform your daily workflow, and the simple question that will help you decide whether every task is actually moving your business forward.

Every business owner will eventually deal with a difficult client—but the real value comes from what those experiences teach you.

In this episode of Grow By Design, we break down the biggest lessons learned from one of the most challenging landscaping projects ever taken on. From identifying red flags and setting clear payment terms to handling change orders, improving communication, and standing firm with difficult customers, these are practical insights every contractor, landscaper, and service business owner can apply.

Every business owner will eventually face a difficult client. In this episode of Grow by Design, Jacob shares the story of his most challenging project and the lessons it taught him about leadership, pricing, contracts, communication, and trusting your instincts. Whether you're in landscaping, construction, or any service business, these real-world experiences can help you avoid costly mistakes and grow with confidence.

What would you do if you had to start over with no employees, no reputation, and only $5,000?In this episode of Grow By Design, Jacob breaks down the exact 90-day plan he would follow to build a service business from the ground up. From finding your first customers and securing your first job to networking, marketing, hiring your first employee, and creating momentum, this episode is a practical roadmap for entrepreneurs ready to take action.

You'll learn:

• How to start with limited resources
• The first services to offer when starting out
• Low-cost marketing strategies that a...

Growing a service business isn't just about getting more customers—it's about getting the right customers in the right locations. In this episode, we break down how route density increases profitability, strengthens recurring revenue, creates marketing opportunities, and boosts the long-term value of your company. Learn why maintenance accounts can become one of your most powerful growth assets.

In this episode of Grow by Design, we dive into the dangerous comfort of complacency in business, relationships, and personal growth. Success isn’t something you earn once — it requires constant effort, evolution, and accountability. If you’ve been feeling stuck, burned out, or frustrated by a lack of progress, this episode is your reminder that someone else is always willing to work for what you’re slowing down on.

In this episode of Grow By Design, we break down why the “perfect CRM” is not the real answer for service business owners. Instead of chasing software, learn how to build the right systems around lead management, estimating, job costing, dispatching, and team execution so your business can scale with clarity and control.

If you don’t understand your numbers, you don’t understand your business—period. In this episode, we break down how to simplify budgeting, calculate real costs, and build profitable pricing without overcomplicating the process. Learn how to stop guessing, avoid costly mistakes, and make smarter decisions that actually grow your business.

Feeling stuck or overwhelmed in your business? This episode breaks down how 90-day planning can bring clarity, focus, and real results. Learn how to turn big goals into simple daily actions, prioritize what truly matters, and start stacking wins every single day. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start growing, this is for you.

Running a business but not seeing growth? The truth might be simple: doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results will keep your business stuck.

In this video, we talk about why businesses fail when they refuse to evolve, how outdated processes slow growth, and why adapting to new technology, systems, and strategies is critical for long-term success.

You’ll learn:

Why staying comfortable can slowly kill your business
How small process improvements can create massive growth
Why speed and adaptation matter in modern business
The importance of st...

In this episode, we dive into one of the biggest challenges entrepreneurs face: juggling family and business.

Building a business requires sacrifice, long hours, and constant decision-making. But if you're not careful, the pursuit of growth can slowly start taking away from the very reason you started in the first place, your family.

In this conversation, we talk honestly about the reality of entrepreneurship, including the pressure of leadership, building a team, making difficult decisions, and learning how to create balance between growing your company and being present in your personal life.

You'll also...

In this episode of Grow By Design, we break down how service business owners can increase revenue without constantly chasing new customers. Learn practical upselling strategies, mindset shifts, and value-driven sales techniques that help lawn care, landscaping, home service, and contractor businesses sell more while better serving their clients.

Discover how recognizing opportunities on every job, overcoming scarcity mindset, and consistently adding value can create loyal customers, referrals, and long-term business growth.

How to upsell services the right way
Turning existing clients into more revenue
The mindset shift that improves sales instantly
Real...

Growing your business isn’t about chasing more leads, bigger jobs, or the next shiny “hack".

It’s about one thing most business owners overlook: the client experience.

In this episode, I break down how focusing on your client’s journey - from the first call to final payment and everything in between - creates a compounding snowball effect that drives real growth.

We cover:

Why “client first” doesn’t mean “customer is always right”
How removing friction makes it easier for people to buy from you
The real reason businesses lose cl...

In this episode of Grow by Design, we break down why great employees really leave—and how leadership, culture, and hiring decisions directly impact turnover and growth. We cover culture killers, accountability, career paths, and what business owners must fix to build teams that scale and stay.

In this episode of Grow by Design, I break down my biggest business mistake of the year: overspending on marketing without alignment, tracking, and accountability. We talk about why “more ads” isn’t the answer, how fragmented marketing kills results, and the systems every business owner must have in place before spending another dollar.

If you’re a service business owner investing in marketing—or thinking about it—this episode could save you tens of thousands of dollars.

In this episode, I break down why pain is unavoidable—but suffering is optional. We dive into hard truths about leadership, accountability, scaling service businesses, management failures, efficiency, marketing struggles, and building a company that can survive the next economic cycle.

I also share personal lessons from fitness, mindset work, Tony Robbins events, and the perspective shifts that changed how I see failure, growth, and success.

This year is about real conversations, real struggles, and real growth.


No fluff. No excuses. Just value.

In this short but important episode, I dive into the reason behind this decision and share a message that applies to every business owner: sometimes doing more doesn’t move you forward, it spreads you thin. I reflect on what it means to overcommit, how that affects leadership and life, and the power of evaluating what truly drives results. If you’ve been grinding nonstop and feel like you’re skimming across everything instead of going deep on what matters, this one’s for you.

Today I talk about the brutal, unfiltered reality of my 2025 business journey, the wins we celebrated, the losses that nearly broke me, and the leadership shifts that changed everything. This year wasn’t just another chapter; it was a true test of resilience, vision, and the willingness to own every mistake along the way. From massive financial obligations and losing key team members to building back with new systems and a stronger foundation, I’m sharing it all without sugarcoating a thing.

In this episode, I dive deep into how I realized the importance of extreme ownership at a wh...

Today I go over our first Level 10 meeting and why I waited way too long to implement this game-changing system in my business. If you're a business owner struggling with direction, wanting things perfect before taking action, or questioning your leadership strength, this episode is exactly what you need to hear.I'm sharing the real story of how we hit $5 million in sales by throwing mud at the wall, then got completely stuck because nobody knew what was actually important anymore. Everyone felt like everything was a priority, and honestly, that was my fault as the owner. I was the...

In this raw episode of Grow By Design, I dive deep into the real meaning of passion and why suffering is absolutely required for business success. Recording from our Naples location, I break down the one correlation I've found between all my biggest wins - passion drove everything. I share insights from Cameron Haynes' book "Undeniable" about how the Latin roots of passion literally mean "to suffer and endure," and why this changes everything about how you should approach building your business. I get honest about the plateaus, anxiety, and lowest lows that come with being obsessed and passionate about...

In this episode of Grow By Design, we dive deep into Alex Hormozi’s latest insights from the Modern Wisdom podcast and explore five game-changing business principles that every entrepreneur needs to understand. If you’re a business owner struggling with direction, perfectionism, or leadership confidence, this episode will shift your perspective on what really matters in business and life.
We break down Alex Hormozi’s five key lessons for business success, starting with why your lowest-paying customers cause the most problems and how raising your prices actually reduces headaches while increasing profits. You’ll discover why solving bigger problems...

In today's episode I break down how we just sold our first six-figure project in Florida and what made this client our absolute ideal customer to work with. First, I explain the concept of identifying your ideal client by looking back at the five people you've most enjoyed working with in your business - those clients where everything just clicked, communication was easy, they didn't question every decision, and they became raving fans who referred more business. The key is finding the commonalities between these top clients to build your customer avatar. Second, I dive into how this avatar should...

Facing fear in business? You’re not alone. In this episode of Grow By Design, we break down the mindset shift every entrepreneur must make to overcome fear and grow with confidence. Whether you’re just starting or scaling your business, you’ll learn why fear (False Expectations Appearing Real) is holding you back—and how to stop letting it. From hiring your first employee to pushing through plateaus, this episode gives you real, raw insight into what it takes to lead, take action, and figure it out—even when you’re scared. If you’re tired of waiting for the perfect ti...

In this episode of Grow By Design, I break down the three essential elements you absolutely must master to make money in your business. First, I dive deep into removing the "head trash" - all the mental roadblocks, limiting beliefs, and guilt around charging what you're worth that keep business owners selling out of their own pockets. I share personal stories about overcoming negative voices and why wanting to make money doesn't make you a bad person. Second, I explain the critical importance of knowing your numbers - from calculating your true overhead costs per hour to understanding your break-even...

In this episode, I dive into the four key focus areas driving our landscape business forward right now. I share our renewed emphasis on client satisfaction through consistent training, automated follow-ups, and what I call "minding the gap" between sale and production. I explain our exciting expansion into Naples, Florida as a strategic move to increase our geographical reach without overextending our marketing budget. I discuss how we're leveraging automation to handle redundant tasks while preserving the human touch where it matters most. Finally, I reveal how we're integrating AI as an assistant tool throughout the company and implementing quarterly...

In this episode, I dive deep into the critical aspects of effective business management, sharing insights from my own journey growing a 50+ employee company with plans for expansion. I break down three key elements every leader must master: becoming a leader worth following with a vision so compelling others want to be part of it, cultivating high-energy leadership that pulls people forward instead of pushing them, and committing to constant development through conferences, training, and reading. I explain how my realization that I'm becoming the bottleneck in our growth has led to a new strategy of quarterly leadership training for...

In this episode, I sit down with marketing expert Jaime Longoria to explore how landscape and service businesses can leverage AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude to save time and improve operations. Jaime shares insider tips from his recent industry conference, explaining how to "train" AI with your business information for better results, use AI to analyze competitors' websites for SEO advantages, create landscape designs with simple prompts, and generate content ideas for social media. We discuss practical applications from automating CRM tasks and responding to reviews to analyzing blood work and creating employee handbooks in multiple languages. Whether you're...

In this episode, I share a powerful message about the importance of attitude and mindset in achieving success. Recording from my car on a Monday morning, I explain why I embrace the "Thank God It's Monday" mentality instead of dreading the work week. I dive into how positivity is a choice that requires tremendous effort - just like building wealth, maintaining fitness, or nurturing relationships - and why this deliberate choice attracts opportunities and people into your life. Drawing from personal experience, I emphasize that my achievements come not from exceptional skill or luck, but from maintaining optimism and consistency...

In this episode, I explore the profound similarities between endurance running and building a successful business. Drawing from my own journey as both a business owner and runner over the past three years, I break down three key parallels: how building an aerobic base through boring, consistent Zone 2 training mirrors the slow, unglamorous daily work required in business; how proper nutrition for athletic performance parallels feeding your mind with quality information while weeding out negativity; and how advanced race fueling strategies compare to leveraging mentors and conferences to accelerate business growth. I explain why there's no overnight success in either...

In this episode, I explore the profound similarities between endurance running and building a successful business. Drawing from my own journey as both a business owner and runner over the past three years, I break down three key parallels: how building an aerobic base through boring, consistent Zone 2 training mirrors the slow, unglamorous daily work required in business; how proper nutrition for athletic performance parallels feeding your mind with quality information while weeding out negativity; and how advanced race fueling strategies compare to leveraging mentors and conferences to accelerate business growth. I explain why there's no overnight success in either...

In this episode, I share a critical realization I had while running around putting out fires during our busy spring season. I explain how easy it is to get caught up in the chaos of daily emergencies and lose sight of what truly matters in your business. Drawing from my own experience of being too busy to sell work and ending up with no jobs in August, I break down why business owners must identify their highest priorities and maintain consistency even when overwhelmed. I discuss the importance of creating action lists, planning your day before it starts, and accepting...

In this episode, I break down why knowing your numbers is absolutely critical to business success. I've learned through growing my landscaping company that setting a detailed budget isn't just about tracking expenses—it's about calculating exactly what we need to charge per hour to cover all overhead, equipment costs, and still generate profit. I compare business budgeting to calorie counting because staying under budget consistently leads to financial health, just like staying under your calorie count leads to weight loss.I share my personal experiences with both sides of the financial spectrum—being cash-rich and being heavily leveraged with debt...

In this focused episode of Grow by Design, we tackle the challenges service businesses face during the spring rush. Learn three actionable strategies to manage the seasonal influx without compromising quality or burning out: keeping the main thing the main thing, controlling growth through strategic pricing, and automating redundant tasks. Discover how to identify your true priorities, use price modulation as a tool to manage demand, and implement automated communication systems that mind the gap between sale and service delivery. Whether you're in landscaping, HVAC, pressure washing, or any seasonal service industry, these practical insights will help you navigate busy...

Ben Boss, a physical therapist and financial professional who bridges two seemingly different worlds with a common purpose: helping people recover and grow stronger. Ben shares his journey from University of Kentucky to becoming passionate about innovative physical therapy techniques like NewFit direct electrical stimulation while simultaneously entering the business financing industry through Bluegrass Lending. Discover how Ben helps businesses overcome cash flow challenges with same-day financing solutions when traditional banks aren't an option, including merchant cash advances for urgent needs like covering payroll or seizing growth opportunities. As an avid marathon runner with a 3:14 PR and ambitious sub-3-hour...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Tyler Pedersen, founder of Endurance Dad Life, as he shares his journey from struggling with alcoholism to becoming a dedicated triathlete and father. Tyler opens up about his 648 days of sobriety, how endurance sports became his pathway to recovery, and his mission to build a supportive community for fathers balancing family responsibilities with athletic goals. Discover practical triathlon training advice for beginners, including swimming strategies, affordable equipment options through Facebook Marketplace, and realistic training expectations for busy parents with limited time. Tyler also shares vulnerably about parenting a child with Williams Syndrome and...

Every business owner faces difficult clients, but few talk about when to cut ties. In this episode, I share honest insights about balancing customer satisfaction with business sustainability. Learn how to evaluate problematic client relationships, identify patterns versus one-off situations, and handle termination conversations professionally. Discover why documentation is crucial, how to create objective systems for making these tough decisions, and why your bandwidth spent on impossible-to-please clients hurts your ability to serve others well. Whether you're dealing with scope creep, unreasonable demands, or clients who blame you for everything, this episode provides actionable strategies to maintain your sanity while...

Every business owner faces difficult clients, but few talk about when to cut ties. In this episode, I share honest insights about balancing customer satisfaction with business sustainability. Learn how to evaluate problematic client relationships, identify patterns versus one-off situations, and handle termination conversations professionally. Discover why documentation is crucial, how to create objective systems for making these tough decisions, and why your bandwidth spent on impossible-to-please clients hurts your ability to serve others well. Whether you're dealing with scope creep, unreasonable demands, or clients who blame you for everything, this episode provides actionable strategies to maintain your sanity while...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Bob Turner, founder of Summit Coaching & Consulting and experienced contractor turned business coach. Discover how Bob helps contractors overcome cash flow challenges, build stronger teams, and create sustainable growth strategies. Learn why leadership development is crucial for business success, how to maintain focus on what truly matters, and why accountability is the foundation of any high-performing organization. Bob shares his journey from running a contracting business to following his passion for coaching entrepreneurs, along with practical advice on creating business systems, managing teams effectively, and finding fulfillment in your work. Whether you're struggling...

In this episode of Grow by Design, we sit down with landscape industry veteran Caleb Almond, founder of Almond Landscape and Hardscape Academy. Caleb shares how he's scaling to $2.2 million in 2025 by investing in key hires and creating boutique client experiences. From selling high-end landscape design services to managing work-life balance, Caleb offers honest insights about his journey from "kid contractor" to established business owner. Learn practical strategies for creating systems that scale, how to transition from selling projects to selling experiences, and why solving client problems is more valuable than competing on price. Whether you're a solo operator or...