What if you could build a team so strong that people never wanted to leave.
In this episode of Good Business, Clay and Luke sit down with Jacob Karnes, a former Chick-fil-A corporate trainer, leadership coach, and author of Master Your First Job, to talk about what it really takes to build a culture that attracts and retains great people, especially Gen Z.

They unpack why apathy is rising, why human connection is becoming a competitive advantage, and how to design a purpose-driven workplace people actually want to stay in. Jacob shares practical frameworks leaders can use right away, including how to hire for values, coach with clarity, and create a feedback culture that builds people instead of burning them out.

In this episode, we cover:
- Why Gen Z is leaving jobs so quickly
- How purpose and community fight apathy
- What Chick-fil-A gets right about culture and hiring
- What personal brand really means for young workers
- The WIN feedback method using What, Illustrate, and Navigate
- Why praise matters more than most leaders think

Subscribe for more episodes of Good Business.
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this with someone who needs it.

#GoodBusiness #Leadership #CompanyCulture #GenZ #EmployeeRetention #Management #TeamBuilding #Feedback #PersonalBrand #ChickfilA #BusinessCoaching #WorkplaceCulture #Operations

Support the show

This show is sponsored by Rocketfuel, a CRM that has helped thousands of small business owners organize and automate their communications so that nothing slips through the cracks and their top-line capacity can grow. Try it risk-free today at https://www.rocketfuel.software!

Most people dream about owning a business. Mike Fransen bought one, and it changed everything.

In this episode of Good Business, Clay and Luke sit down with Mike to talk about what it looks like to acquire a boomer-owned, blue-collar business and survive the first two years. They cover the pressure of personally guaranteeing a loan, managing partnership tension, navigating a seller transition, and learning how to lead a new team while stabilizing cash flow.

In this episode, we cover:
What it feels like the day you sign the papers
Why tension is not the problem, but mismanaging it is
How to evaluate a business beyond the numbers
What first-time buyers underestimate about seller transitions
Why “boring” businesses can be the smartest move
What stability actually looks like in year one and year two

If you are thinking about buying a business, stepping out of corporate, or building a partnership that lasts, this one is for you.

Subscribe for more episodes of Good Business.

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and share this with someone who needs it.

#GoodBusiness #Entrepreneurship #BusinessAcquisition #SmallBusiness #Leadership #BusinessPartnership #BlueCollarBusiness #SBA #EOS #Operations #MergersAndAcquisitions #FounderJourney

Support the show

This show is sponsored by Rocketfuel, a CRM that has helped thousands of small business owners organize and automate their communications so that nothing slips through the cracks and their top-line capacity can grow. Try it risk-free today at https://www.rocketfuel.software!

Most blue-collar businesses grow slowly. AAA Paving grew 10X in just three years without burning out crews or compromising culture.

In this episode of Good Business, Clay and Luke sit down with Rheese Stanley, President of AAA Paving, to talk about servant leadership, faith in business, disciplined systems, and what it really takes to scale while putting people first.

From standing by employees through unjust arrests to doubling down during COVID, Rheese shares real stories of courage, humility, and leadership that honors God.

If you’re a business owner, leader, or entrepreneur trying to grow without losing your heart, this episode is for you.

Schedule a marketing discovery call here:
https://www.goodagency.com/schedule-call

Subscribe to Good Business on:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkcg0fdy9Ku0VxRddLh9sF1-Syc1o0HWl
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0fka1EglKh0dCqc8ACF77E?si=e11317b8cd1b4b70&nd=1&dlsi=e3601189b0b94acf
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-business-with-clay-vaughan/id1610259222

#leadership #businessoperations #entrepreneurship #hustleculture #burnoutprevention #EOS #founderlife

Support the show

This show is sponsored by Rocketfuel, a CRM that has helped thousands of small business owners organize and automate their communications so that nothing slips through the cracks and their top-line capacity can grow. Try it risk-free today at https://www.rocketfuel.software!

Most contractors don’t lose money on sales. They lose it on execution.
In this episode of Good Business, Clay and Luke sit down with Josiah Peterson, founder of KBHC Consulting, to talk about what really protects profit in contracting and service businesses.

From job costing and overhead recovery to the 3–5 crew breaking point, seasonality planning, and change orders that drain margins, Josiah shares what he learned scaling and exiting his own business and what he now teaches contractors who want to grow.

We also talk about software, CRMs, routing and scheduling, and how AI and automation will transform trades faster than most owners expect.

If you are a contractor, operator, or service business owner trying to scale without losing control of your margins, this is for you.

Connect with Josiah: Reach out on LinkedIn (as mentioned in the episode).

If this helped you: Like, subscribe, and leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Chapters
00:00 Contractors lose money on execution, not sales
01:15 Why margins disappear (unseen costs, sloppy schedules)
05:24 Mentorship and steady leadership
11:07 Purpose, provision, and pushing through naysayers
13:18 The 3–5 crew ceiling and team runway
16:04 Seasonality planning and consistent pipeline
24:23 Small jobs, better margin, and selling to defined need
31:43 Overhead recovery and true cost of business
36:02 Software, CRM, AI, and integration
40:21 Will robots take over trades?
45:21 Change orders and emotional capital
49:21 Monetizing existing customers and plugging leaks
55:36 The question every leader should ask

Subscribe for more: Good Business exists to help leaders build companies that impact the world for good.


#GoodBusinessPodcast #Contractors #Leadership #Operations #Pricing #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #ServiceBusiness #Construction #Trades

Support the show

This show is sponsored by Rocketfuel, a CRM that has helped thousands of small business owners organize and automate their communications so that nothing slips through the cracks and their top-line capacity can grow. Try it risk-free today at https://www.rocketfuel.software!

In this episode of Good Business, Clay Vaughan and Luke Frazier sit down with Abby Ramin, Director of Operations at Good Agency, for a candid conversation about hustle, burnout, and what it really takes to execute vision at scale.

Abby shares what she learned stepping into an integrator role during rapid growth, why hustle is about discipline and rhythm, not chaos, and how alignment actually creates speed. They discuss leadership friction, EOS rhythms, time tracking, forecasting, and the systems that help teams grow without losing trust, clarity, or culture.

If you’re a founder, operator, or leader trying to scale without burning out your team, this episode will challenge how you think about hustle, execution, and leadership.

Schedule a marketing discovery call here:
https://www.goodagency.com/schedule-call

Subscribe to Good Business on:
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkcg0fdy9Ku0VxRddLh9sF1-Syc1o0HWl
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0fka1EglKh0dCqc8ACF77E?si=e11317b8cd1b4b70&nd=1&dlsi=e3601189b0b94acf
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-business-with-clay-vaughan/id1610259222

#leadership #businessoperations #entrepreneurship #hustleculture #burnoutprevention #EOS #founderlife

Support the show

This show is sponsored by Rocketfuel, a CRM that has helped thousands of small business owners organize and automate their communications so that nothing slips through the cracks and their top-line capacity can grow. Try it risk-free today at https://www.rocketfuel.software!

On this episode of Good Business, Clay Vaughan and Luke Frazier speak with Brad Pearse, Sales Development Leader and founder of Simplified Sales. Brad shares how growing up in a $ 700 million family business shaped his approach to culture, customer experience, and leadership, and why so much of today’s hustle-obsessed entrepreneurial mindset is deeply unhealthy.

They explore how purpose, faith, and stewardship transform the way leaders present themselves; what entrepreneurs often misunderstand about success; and why serving others is the true foundation of meaningful work. Brad also breaks down practical strategies for building healthy sales teams, aligning sales and marketing into a unified revenue engine, and using LinkedIn Sales Navigator for trust-based prospecting rather than spam.

Whether you lead a sales team or are trying to grow your business without losing your values, this conversation will challenge how you think about work, culture, and what it means to build something that lasts.

To connect with Brad, find him on LinkedIn.

Schedule a marketing discovery call here:
https://www.goodagency.com/schedule-call

Subscribe to Good Business on:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkcg0fdy9Ku0VxRddLh9sF1-Syc1o0HWl
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0fka1EglKh0dCqc8ACF77E?si=e11317b8cd1b4b70
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-business-with-clay-vaughan/id1610259222

#salesleadership #entrepreneurmindset #revenuegrowth #trustbasedselling #salesnavigator #goodbusinesspodcast

Support the show

This show is sponsored by Rocketfuel, a CRM that has helped thousands of small business owners organize and automate their communications so that nothing slips through the cracks and their top-line capacity can grow. Try it risk-free today at https://www.rocketfuel.software!

On this episode of Good Business, Clay Vaughan and Luke Frazier sit down with Scott Frazier, entrepreneur and co-founder of Freed Up, on the very day he sold his company. Scott shares what founders get wrong about freedom, why productivity starts with clarity, and how the bad habits can quietly turn a business into a 24/7 prison instead of the life-giving work it was meant to be.

They explore the more profound shifts every leader must make to stay effective as they grow, how ministry shaped Scott’s approach to leadership and sales, and why the future of business will be more human, not less, even as AI continues to expand. Scott also breaks down the origin of 90 Days of Action, the truth about procrastination disguised as learning, and the mindset required to scale with purpose instead of burnout.

Whether you are trying to reclaim your time or build a company that does not depend on you for everything, this conversation will challenge how you think about freedom, effectiveness, and leadership.

To connect with Scott, find him on LinkedIn.

Schedule a marketing discovery call here:
https://www.goodagency.com/schedule-call

Subscribe to Good Business on:

YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkcg0fdy9Ku0VxRddLh9sF1-Syc1o0HWl

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0fka1EglKh0dCqc8ACF77E?si=e11317b8cd1b4b70&nd=1&dlsi=e3601189b0b94acf

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-business-with-clay-vaughan/id1610259222

#founderlife #productivitytips #businessfreedom #entrepreneurmindset #leadershipdevelopment

Support the show

This show is sponsored by Rocketfuel, a CRM that has helped thousands of small business owners organize and automate their communications so that nothing slips through the cracks and their top-line capacity can grow. Try it risk-free today at https://www.rocketfuel.software!

On this episode of Good Business, Clay Vaughan and Luke Frazier talk with Cody Lutz, Leadership Coach and Culture Consultant. Cody unpacks how consistency, clarity, and courage shape the way leaders show up and influence those around them.
They explore how internal priorities shape external impact, what happens when fear gives way to conviction, and how daily stewardship builds long-term credibility. Cody also shares how ego gets in the way of purpose — and why building margin might be the most strategic thing a leader can do.
Whether you’re growing a business or trying to refocus your team, this conversation will challenge your thinking and reset your priorities.
To hear more from Cody, connect with him on LinkedIn.

Schedule a marketing discovery call here: https://www.goodagency.com/schedule-call
Subscribe to Good Business on:
YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkcg0fdy9Ku0VxRddLh9sF1-Syc1o0HWl&si=JWDLdfSWR48hhg96
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0fka1EglKh0dCqc8ACF77E?si=e11317b8cd1b4b70
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-business-with-clay-vaughan/id1610259222

#trustbuilding #teamculture #leadershiphabits #healthyteams #cultureconsulting

Support the show

This show is sponsored by Rocketfuel, a CRM that has helped thousands of small business owners organize and automate their communications so that nothing slips through the cracks and their top-line capacity can grow. Try it risk-free today at https://www.rocketfuel.software!