The founders of HW Contracting share their 15-year journey from getting laid off to building a successful roofing business together, highlighting the realities of partnership, narrowing business focus, and balancing work with family life. • Started business out of necessity after both being laid off during economic downturn • Initially took on any construction jobs that would pay the bills • Made difficult transition to narrowing focus exclusively to roofing • Learning to say "no" to projects ou...
Jul 09, 2025•54 min
In the FIRST episode of 2025, Craig Carder from C3 Medical Device joins us to share the raw, unfiltered truth about the struggles and sacrifices of entrepreneurship. We dive into the challenges of letting go, building effective leadership, and creating systems that drive growth. Craig opens up about the pivotal moments that shaped his journey, revealing how resilience and adaptability are key to lasting success. Send us a text Support the show Listen to other episodes and see videos of the podca...
Jan 13, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 136
Welcome to another episode of Building a Business that Lasts! In today's episode, we have an insightful conversation with Jay Owen, a successful entrepreneur, about the challenges and triumphs of building an enduring business while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Join us as Jay shares his personal struggles with email addiction and the steps he takes to disconnect and trust his team while on vacation. We also delve into the importance of personal growth and self-care practices, such as ...
Aug 05, 2024•45 min•Season 1Ep. 135
What does it look like to run a business as a ministry? Is it possible in today's complex political climate? In this episode, Mike Sharrow, CEO of C12, talks through that topic along with other strategies to help leaders and entrepreneurs build a business without being stressed out, worn out, and ready to quit. C12 if a Christian business forum that meets monthly all over the world to help leaders build a great business for a greater purpose. Send us a text Support the show Listen to other episo...
Jan 31, 2023•56 min•Season 1Ep. 134
Getting the right sales strategy in place is more important than ever. On this episode, I talk to Amanda Holmes, CEO at Chet Holmes and daughter of the author of The Ultimate Sales Machine. A framework used by thousands of businesses around the world to double their business. https://chetholmes.com/ch4/ Send us a text Support the show Listen to other episodes and see videos of the podcast at http://buildingabusinessthatlasts.com...
Nov 22, 2022•53 min•Season 1Ep. 133
What’s the difference between a vendor and a partnership? Why should you care about your ROI or LTV in marketing — what even are those? How do you transition from traditional marketing to digital marketing? We talk about all these things and more on this episode. Send us a text Support the show Listen to other episodes and see videos of the podcast at http://buildingabusinessthatlasts.com...
Sep 27, 2022•50 min•Season 1Ep. 132
Listen into my interview on the 904Now internet show where I talk about business growth, teams, vision, passion, and future. Send us a text Support the show Listen to other episodes and see videos of the podcast at http://buildingabusinessthatlasts.com
Aug 30, 2022•20 min•Season 1Ep. 131
Hustle, run, charge ahead, and pull yourself up by your bootstraps! So much of entrepreneurship is like this, but if we're not careful, we can end up mentally unwell faster than we think. When that happens it affects everyone around us. It's easy to end up in a place where our past and false stories are crafting the narrative of our life that isn't helpful or healthy. In this episode, I talk with Dr. John Delony from Ramsey Solutions about how we can own our past and change our future. This conv...
Jun 16, 2022•42 min
A lot of people are looking for different kinds of apps for their business. Every now and then people think, “I can’t find an app that does what I need. I need to build a custom app". Along the way, I’ve seen people do that really well and not really well. I’d like to give you a few tips that will help you build an app successfully. If you are thinking about building an app, there are 5 things you need to know before you start. Send us a text Support the show Listen to other episodes and see vid...
May 31, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 129
Lots of folks want to know where to put their marketing dollars. After all, they're limited and we want them to be effective. Ultimately, your marketing should help you get attention and acquire customers. If it's not doing that, it's just a massive waste of time and money. But where should you focus those efforts? Traditional or Digital? In this episode, I interview Ali Guy, the Senior Marketing Account Manager to explore that question and what she's learned through years in the business that c...
Apr 26, 2022•41 min•Season 1Ep. 128
We are usually talking to for profit businesses, but creating a non-profit from scratch has a lot of similarities. You need a mission, you need to get people on board, you need systems and processes, and so much more. On this episode, I talk to Sherri & Dean Porter who have distributed over 13 MILLION meals to kids here in Florida over the last 9 years at Hunger Fight. Send us a text Support the show Listen to other episodes and see videos of the podcast at http://buildingabusinessthatlasts....
Apr 12, 2022•44 min•Season 1Ep. 127
Most business leaders and owners find themselves stuck in the whirlwind of business. The path out of that is with a clear business playbook that outlines your systems and processes in a way that others can follow. In this episode, I talk to the CEO of Trainual.com and author of The Business Playbook, Chris Ronzio. He gives practical strategies on how to finally get systems and processes that work for you and your business. Send us a text Support the show Listen to other episodes and see videos o...
Mar 29, 2022•45 min•Season 1Ep. 126
This internal team member interview is with our Coaching Operations Manager, Hannah Evans. She started in one role, is in a totally different one now, has led major live events, and deals with my chaos. We talk about how to delegate well, how to work with an assistant, what it's like to plan a major event, and how to pivot into new roles and opportunities — oh, and Lightning the hamster. We hope this interview gives you inside insights that help you and your team grow. Send us a text Support the...
Mar 15, 2022•39 min•Season 1Ep. 125
There's a big blue ocean of opportunity out there and on this episode, I talk to fellow agency owner, Jon Tsourakis. We talk about how he was fired from the family business at a young age, he once increased a product cost from $500/mo to $3500/mo overnight and much more. Send us a text Support the show Listen to other episodes and see videos of the podcast at http://buildingabusinessthatlasts.com...
Mar 01, 2022•36 min
Many entrepreneurs end up feeling burnt out and that often takes a toll on their marriage and family. In this episode, I share a special Q&A my wife and I did at a recent event we hosted on the topic of Business, Family, and Marriage. We answer specific questions about what's worked (and not worked) for us to not only have a thriving business but a thriving marriage after nearly two decades. Send us a text Support the show Listen to other episodes and see videos of the podcast at http://buil...
Feb 15, 2022•45 min
On this episode I talk to Travis Sutphin, Director of Development at Business Builders. Travis started here 6 years ago as a developer and today runs the entire development department. We talk about his move from WV to FL, the transition from developer to director, our systems and processes, and the tension required to propel an organization forward. Send us a text Support the show Listen to other episodes and see videos of the podcast at http://buildingabusinessthatlasts.com...
Feb 01, 2022•24 min
A lot of people spend a lot of money on marketing that doesn't work. Is your marketing plan making you money or draining your resources? In this episode, I talk about the 5 key elements you need to be successful in marketing for your business. Send us a text Support the show Listen to other episodes and see videos of the podcast at http://buildingabusinessthatlasts.com...
Jan 18, 2022•19 min•Season 1Ep. 121
Many business leaders obsess over their competition. On this episode, I interview a "competitor" in our space because we both believe that collaboration is more valuable than competition. We talk about how to build an agency (or any business) over time, what pitfalls we've run into, and how to care well for those around you as a leader. Tyler Pigott, founder of Lone Fir Creative is my guest on this episode. Send us a text Support the show Listen to other episodes and see videos of the podcast at...
Jan 11, 2022•55 min
Every year, we set resolutions, personally and professionally. Unfortunately, we often fail to actually get to those goals. In this episode, I share practical advice on how to stay on track and on a mission so that you can live your life and build your business on purpose. When you're making intentional progress, it gets you out of the whirlwind and makes you feel a sense of meaning in life. Send us a text Support the show Listen to other episodes and see videos of the podcast at http://building...
Jan 04, 2022•17 min
If there is one thing that Jay gets the most questions about from other entrepreneurs, it’s this subject - Work Life Balance. He’s raised five kids while building a business so he has learned a lot over the years. This is a special episode that walks through stories and tips that Jay believes will help you build a business that lasts without being stressed out, worn out, and ready to quit but, more importantly, without sacrificing family and friends. Send us a text Support the show Listen to oth...
Dec 21, 2021•25 min•Season 1Ep. 118
Every wondered if you should or should not hire family? Me too! I struggled with the idea for years, but today, one of my sisters works on our team at Business Builders. On this episode, I talk to her (Kari Keil) about working with family, transitioning roles, & dealing with change. If these are things you've struggled with, you'll enjoy this behind the scenes conversation. Send us a text Support the show Listen to other episodes and see videos of the podcast at http://buildingabusinessthatl...
Dec 07, 2021•28 min
Most businesses are started in order to create more freedom, make more money, or follow a passion. Unfortunately most businesses aren't successful at making that happen. Many business leaders end up feeling worn out, stressed out, and ready to quit. On this episode I share the four foundations of business that have helped our team at Business Builders grow year over year for over 23 years. Send us a text Support the show Listen to other episodes and see videos of the podcast at http://buildingab...
Nov 23, 2021•24 min•Season 1Ep. 116
Many people talk about core values or building principles, but very often, they just become letters on a wall at most. In this episode, we unpack how Guiding Principles have made decisions clear for building one of the most successful Ford & Lincoln Dealerships in the country. Letti & Bo Bozard are known in the community for how much they care for St. Augustine, how much they care for their team, and how driven they are to be the absolute best. We unpack how that has worked for them thro...
Nov 09, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 115
Chris Webster is the President of Business Builders but has been in almost every role in the business leading up to this point. Jay and Chris discuss the journey the company has been on and what lead to the company name change after over 20 years. Send us a text Support the show Listen to other episodes and see videos of the podcast at http://buildingabusinessthatlasts.com...
Oct 26, 2021•35 min•Season 1Ep. 114
This special episode was recorded originally for the Path for Growth podcast with Alex Judd and shared here with a new intro with special details about the future of the Building a Business that Lasts Podcast. We talk about the 6 core human needs, how they apply to personal growth, business growth, and life as a whole. Both Jay & Alex are on a mission to help leaders and companies grow in a healthy way. Want to grow a healthy business without crashing your life at the same time? This is your...
Oct 12, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Season 1Ep. 113
Behind every great success is a great story. Mike McDerment is the founder, board chair, and executive at FreshBooks, the #2 small business accounting software in the US. In this episode, he shares his experience, thoughts, and best advice on how to approach life as a busy entrepreneur. Notes: “Accidental founder” (started the business to solve a problem) Started #1 accounting software in the cloud for self-employed professionals and their teams; #2 in America Running a small design firm; saved ...
May 10, 2021•39 min•Season 1Ep. 112
Is your life profitable? Not just in money, but in everything else: family, friends, hobbies — the things that really matter and bring you the most happiness. That’s what Adii Pienaar is focused on. A published author and 3x company founder of Cogsy, Conversio, and WooCommerce, Adii has learned what it truly means to have a meaningful, fulfilling life as an entrepreneur, and he’s here to share just a few things he’s discovered along the way. Send us a text Support the show Listen to other episod...
Apr 05, 2021•45 min•Season 1Ep. 111
Conversations are the cornerstone of every relationship, and human connection matters more than we may think. Thom Singer is a growth leadership speaker who has acted as a “human connection catalyst” for more than a decade, and he’s here to share about business, relationships, and the importance of human connection. Send us a text Support the show Listen to other episodes and see videos of the podcast at http://buildingabusinessthatlasts.com...
Mar 01, 2021•43 min•Season 1Ep. 110
You’re going to leave your business one of two ways: one, because you chose to leave it, or two, because you died. When you’re gone, what will happen to your business? You need to have a plan. The President and CEO of SHG Planning, Steven Goodman helps people preserve their legacies through estate and business succession planning. It’s a hard conversation to have, but something critical to think about and plan for today because tomorrow is never promised. Send us a text Support the show Listen t...
Feb 23, 2021•45 min•Season 1Ep. 109
Our experiences help shape us and guide us toward our futures, and this is true even for business owners. Dave Will is currently the CEO and co-founder of PropFuel, an engagement platform, but his journey into the business world started long before then. Over time, he’s only learned what works for business, but also what really matters in life. This conversation gets deep, so join us as we talk authenticity, business moves, family, and so much more. Send us a text Support the show Listen to othe...
Feb 22, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 108
