GROW by Design

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 actually work• How to land your first paying customers• When to hire your first employee• The importance of networking and referrals• Why resourcefulness matters more than resources• How to overcome fear and take imperfect actionWhether you're starting a lawn care company, landscaping business, home service company, or any service-based business, these principles can help you gain traction faster and avoid common mistakes.Success isn't about having more money. It's about taking action, solving problems, and staying committed when things get uncomfortable.What would be the first thing you'd do if you had to start over today? Let us know in the comments.

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 whole new level, why empowering leaders is non-negotiable for real growth, and the mindset shifts that pulled us out of the trenches. I also share my personal goals, from Ironman training to carving out family time, and how they tie directly back into becoming a stronger entrepreneur and leader. If you’re a business owner or someone fighting to push past your own limits, this episode will give you a raw, honest look at what it really takes to rebuild, recharge, and rise again.

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 your company, and why your "why" needs to be bigger than money to sustain you through the suffering. Whether you're a business owner struggling with direction, hesitating because you want things perfect, or questioning your leadership strength, this episode will help you understand that the struggle isn't a sign you're doing something wrong - it's proof you're doing something meaningful. I also tackle why staying uncomfortable is the only way to grow, the difference between suffering now by trying hard versus suffering later from regret, and how to avoid "rocking chair syndrome" where you spend your final years wondering what could have been.

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 drive your marketing strategy - maybe your ideal clients all live in specific zip codes, care more about speed than price, or value quality over everything else. Understanding what your best customers actually want allows you to craft messaging that speaks directly to more people just like them. Finally, I address the mindset shift that's required to think strategically about your ideal client rather than just taking any work that comes your way. Too many business owners get stuck working in the business instead of on the business, never stepping back to ask who they really want to serve and why those relationships work so well. This episode will help you identify your ideal client, understand what makes them tick, and build a business that consistently attracts the customers you actually want to work with.

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 point and adding proper profit margins. Finally, I discuss maintaining the flow of leads, sales, and production, and why this balance is so crucial for long-term success. I also address why new levels always bring new devils, and how business challenges scale up just like training for marathons - you get stronger, but you're always pushing your limits. Whether you're just starting out or looking to scale, this episode will help you overcome the mental barriers and practical challenges that keep most business owners from achieving real profitability.

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 both myself and team members. Whether you're managing a small team or scaling to hundreds of employees, this conversation offers practical advice for improving your leadership presence, protecting your energy, and developing a leadership pipeline that allows your company to grow beyond your personal capacity.

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 even when facing challenges. I recommend resources like ET (Eric Thomas) and Tony Robbins for developing better mindset tools, and explain how your focus creates a "reticular activating system" effect that reveals opportunities aligned with your goals. This episode serves as a reminder that your attitude might be the biggest roadblock between you and your dreams.