Everything They Don't Tell You

If you are building a company and feel like growth is getting harder, this episode is a reset. Adam Coffey is a veteran, former GE leader, and CEO who has built multiple companies for private equity, generating billions in exits. In this conversation, Adam breaks down the real CEO playbook: managing process not minutia, building leaders, setting a higher bar for growth, and how private equity actually works when it is done right. We cover: The shift from operator to conductor Why great leaders schedule real thinking time When to replace an underperformer The rule of 72 and why 10% growth is not enough How private equity creates the market founders sell into Why your first exit is not the finish line The "death of the click" and how AI is reshaping lead generation Connect with Adam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamecoffey/ Books: The Private Equity Playbook, Empire Builder, and more __ This episode is sponsored by OneAccord OneAccord's OASYS Strategic Planning & Execution system helps business owners increase company value, reduce owner dependency, and get truly ready for a successful transition or exit. Josh Zolin listeners receive a complimentary Value Readiness Snapshot using the link below.   Start here:  https://oneaccord.co/oasys/joshzolin      

The Truth About Business, Leadership, and Becoming Who You're Meant to Be   Welcome to Everything They Don't Tell You - the podcast for people building more than just a business. Hosted by Josh Zolin, this show dives into the stuff most people skip: the mental, emotional, and internal challenges that come with leadership. We talk strategy, yes—but also identity, mindset, freedom, and fulfillment. You'll hear from high-level entrepreneurs, experts, and operators on the truth behind the journey. No fluff. No guru speak. Just real stories and actionable lessons. Join us as we unpack the T.R.U.T.H.: Time. Responsibility. Understanding. Tenacity. Humility. Because scaling a business is hard. Staying connected to your higher self while you do it? That's even harder. This is Everything They Don't Tell You. __ ► Free resource: 90 Day ROI Playbook — Multiply Your Profits with the Skills No One Trains https://bitnw.academy/roiplaybook    

Most founders are building a business their body can't carry. Certified Health Nut Troy Casey joins me to talk about becoming hard to kill so your life and work don't collapse on you.   In this episode, I sit down with Troy Casey, the Certified Health Nut, to talk about health in a way most founders and executives never hear it. We get into his "nine pillars" of health, why your body and your word are the only two things you really own, and how to build a life that's hard to kill so your business and your family aren't gambling on a burnt-out version of you. Troy shares: How he went from Versace model to medicine hunter in the Amazon and the birth of Certified Health Nut The gym routine he uses for mental health and longevity instead of ego lifting Why he focuses on sleep, sunlight, movement and real food before gadgets and gimmicks What "health and your word" actually mean for integrity, posture and parenting How meditation, nature and community changed the way he leads and raises his kids Disclaimer: Troy shares his personal experiences and opinions about health, training, and different practices. Nothing in this episode is medical advice. Always talk to your doctor or a qualified professional before making big changes to your health routine. __ Guest: Troy Casey Certified Health Nut on all platforms Book: Ripped At 50: A Journey To Self Love __ ► Free resource: 90 Day ROI Playbook — Multiply Your Profits with the Skills No One Trains https://bitnw.academy/roiplaybook     Music Licensing by Audiio License #: 0981896904 #health #longevity #leadership

Most founders treat buying a business like a shortcut. In reality, your first acquisition is old-school marriage. It cannot end in divorce. Seth Deutsch joins me to unpack how to know if you should acquire at all, how to avoid blowing your first deal, and how to build an anti-fragile business that investors actually want.   Most founders think they have a growth problem. In reality, a lot of them have an acquisition problem waiting to happen. In this episode I sit down with Seth Deutsch, deal architect, investor, and operator who has led or advised on more than 70 acquisitions, helped build nine private-equity-backed platforms, and worked on over 2 billion dollars of enterprise growth. We talk about buy vs build, why acquisitions are like merging families, and the mindset you need before you go anywhere near your first deal. Seth breaks down culture, vision, peer-group cashless mergers, and what it means to make a business anti-fragile from an investor's point of view. We get real about customer concentration, deal structure, earnouts, and why buying a company to save a struggling one is like adding fuel to a house that is already on fire. He also opens up about complex PTSD and severe childhood abuse, how he hid it for years while building a high-performance career, and why he now speaks openly so other founders know it was not their fault and it does not have to define them. If you are thinking about buying a business, selling your own, or just want to understand how investors really see your company, this conversation will give you a real-world lens most people never share. __ ► Free resource: 90 Day ROI Playbook — Multiply Your Profits with the Skills No One Trains https://bitnw.academy/roiplaybook   __ Guest: Seth Deutsch Topic(s): Mergers and Acquisitions, private equity, owner operator, small business, investors, leadership, enterprise growth, cashless merger https://www.samsonpartnersgroup.com/   Music Licensing by Audiio License #: 0981896904 #cashlessmerger #business #privateequity  

Most owners in the trades do not have a revenue problem. They have a profit problem. Ben Hansen, the Profit Doctor, joins me to break down why you are working harder than ever with nothing to show for it and how to fix it.   In this episode, I sit down with Ben Hansen, the Profit Doctor, to dig into why so many blue collar entrepreneurs are incredible operators and terrible CFOs for their own company. We talk about the gap between turning wrenches and understanding your numbers, why most bookkeepers and CPAs are not setting you up to win, and what to do if your revenue is climbing but your profit is stuck.   Ben walks through his 4-part profit prescription, the difference between profit, revenue, and cash, how to think about pricing in the trades, and why you should stop doing the jobs that always lose you money. We also get into profititis, the 50–20 rule, and how cutting the worst 20 percent of your customers and work can be the fastest way to double what you keep. __ ► Free resource: 90 Day ROI Playbook — Multiply Your Profits with the Skills No One Trains https://bitnw.academy/roiplaybook   __ Guest: Ben Hansen, Profit Doctor Topic(s): Scale lean, boost margins, and build a business that actually gives you freedom, not just bigger numbers. https://profitdoctor.com/   Music Licensing by Audiio License #: 0981896904 #profit #profitability #smallbusiness

A candid business podcast for growth-minded leaders and entrepreneurs. Hosted by Josh Zolin. The truth about leadership, business, and becoming who you're meant to be.   Olympic gold medalist Joe Jacobi breaks down performance without the hustle theater: rehearse the day, put presence before future-self, and master wave selection (the art of letting most waves pass so the right ones carry you farther with less effort). We get tactical on routines, gratitude at the start line, 15-second resets, and why the small waves you surf will compound into big results.   ► Free resource: 90 Day ROI Playbook — Multiply Your Profits with the Skills No One Trains https://bitnw.academy/roiplaybook __ Guest: Joe Jacobi, Performance Coaching Topic(s): Rethinking and redefining what High Performance is and means today https://joejacobi.com/     Music Licensing by Audiio License #: 0981896904 #leadership #performance

Leaders don't get buy‑in by talking louder. Dave Garrison (CEO, advisor, author of The Buy‑In Advantage) breaks down how to make people care: confirm what they heard, define great, switch from human doings to human beings, and replace answers with questions so teams own the work. Plus: the 30% raise rule, warning signs you're losing buy‑in, and the one meeting question that changes everything.   ► Free resource: 90 Day ROI Playbook - Multiply Your Profits with the Skills No One Trains https://bitnw.academy/roiplaybook   Music Licensing by Audiio License #: 0981896904  

Leadership that lasts looks more like a hive than a pyramid. Philip Atkinson (consultant and beekeeper) explains how: the queen serves the hive, communication is clear and consistent, leaders "sense the system," and careers evolve through many roles. Plus: three coaching skills to practice this week (listen, ask better questions, stay curious).   ► Free resource: 90 Day ROI Playbook — Multiply Your Profits with the Skills No One Trains https://bitnw.academy/roiplaybook   Check out Philip's book Be Wise and Bees for Development (proceeds to charity). 🐝 Bee Wise: 12 Leadership Lessons from a Busy Beehive https://a.co/d/5nPnC9h https://beewisebook.com/

Stop waiting for perfect. Start today. Al Levi breaks down why momentum beats perfection, how to "box" your business so it can scale, and the seven powers he uses to build teams and companies that last. Al Levi shares the mindset and mechanics to grow: start now, ship at 80 percent, and build on documented systems, not slogans. We get into his "seven powers" framework (planning, operations, staffing, sales, sales coaching, marketing, finance), why people need the why, and how to turn ideas into a focused "top five" plan you'll actually finish. We also hit training that sticks, marketing that maps to sales, and the long game of leadership. Episode Guest: Al Levi - 7powercontractor.com/systems -- A candid business podcast for growth-minded leaders and entrepreneurs. Hosted by Josh Zolin. The truth about leadership, business, and becoming who you're meant to be.  🎯 Free resource: 90 Day ROI Playbook — Multiply Your Profits with the Skills No One Trains https://bitnw.academy/roiplaybook  

A candid business podcast for growth-minded leaders and entrepreneurs. Hosted by Josh Zolin. The truth about leadership, business, and becoming who you're meant to be.   What happens when a CEO stops optimizing for the quarter and starts optimizing for people? Henny Penny's Rob Connelly walks us through why they converted to an ESOP (employee stock ownership plan), how it changed behavior on the floor, and the leadership credo that guided the journey: "Savor the day while always learning for a better tomorrow." We talk long-view decision making, radical accountability, and why "start with people and the numbers will follow" isn't just a slogan — it's the operating system. — Guest: Rob Connelly, Executive Chairman, Henny Penny Topics: ESOP mechanics, culture shifts, long-term vs short-term, optimism with realism, profit sharing, supplier health, zero-layoff philosophy. 🎯 Free resource: 90 Day ROI Playbook — Multiply Your Profits with the Skills No One Trains https://bitnw.academy/roiplaybook

A candid business podcast for growth-minded leaders and entrepreneurs. Hosted by Josh Zolin. The truth about leadership, business, and becoming who you're meant to be. Episode 3 with Dr. Gay Hendricks (The Big Leap): We unpack the Upper Limit Problem and how to spot it in real time, then move into practical tools for living in your Zone of Genius. We cover the fears that trigger self-sabotage, the two questions that reveal your genius, excellence vs genius, how to handle worry thoughts, and why wonder is a leadership superpower. What you'll learn • Upper Limit Problem, in plain English • Four common fears underneath self-sabotage • Two questions to find your Zone of Genius • Zone of Excellence vs Zone of Genius • How to work with worry thoughts and control • Simple ways to befriend fear Guest: Dr. Gay Hendricks - author of 40+ books including The Big Leap; co-founder, The Hendricks Institute Listen on your favorite app Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Podcast page: https://www.blueisthenewwhite.com/podcast 🎯 Free resource: 90 Day ROI Playbook — Multiply Your Profits with the Skills No One Trains https://bitnw.academy/roiplaybook

A candid business podcast for growth-minded leaders and entrepreneurs. Hosted by Josh Zolin. The truth about leadership, business, and becoming who you're meant to be.   🎯 Free resource: 90 Day ROI Playbook — Multiply Your Profits with the Skills No One Trains https://bitnw.academy/roiplaybook   How high-performing dads win at home like they do in business. We talk presence vs. hurry, immature vs. mature masculinity, self-leadership, "be where your feet are," the Preparation Pause, and why coachability beats clout. Practical, human, and immediately usable.   Topics we cover • Presence over hurry • Coachability vs. clout • "Be the thermostat, not the thermometer" • The Iron Five (find your men) • Self-leadership before team leadership • Legacy in the ordinary moments   Guest: Mitchell Osmond — Founder, The Dad Nation Podcast / content / coaching focused on helping 6–7 figure men show up at home and at work.  The Connection Code

Everything They Don't Tell You with Josh Zolin and guest Christian Ray Flores. Leaders don't freeze because they'll fail. They freeze because they'll be rejected by the tribe. Christian Ray Flores breaks that loop and gets practical: build an offer (Persona, Problem, Promise, Process) and use the Seven Fs to scale without losing yourself. 🎯 Free resource: 90 Day ROI Playbook — Multiply Your Profits with the Skills No One Trains Highlights: • Fear of failure vs fear of rejection and tribal wiring • "Fit in by standing out" — in service to your tribe • Offers > services: the 4 Ps framework • The Seven Fs radar: Faith, Family, Friendships, Finances, Fitness, Fun

Today marks the end of an era. After 200 episodes, countless conversations, and more "aha" moments than I can count, it's time to say goodbye to the Blue is the New White Podcast.  When I started this podcast, I had one goal: to shine a light on the incredible power of the blue-collar world and to help business owners and tradespeople realize their full potential.... What I didn't expect was how much this show would give back to me. I'm beyond grateful for the friendships built, the partners gained, the incredible guests who've shared their stories, and the loyal listeners who turned every episode into a stepping stone for something bigger. You've given me more than you know... knowledge, perspective, connections, and above all, a deep sense of purpose. Together, we've changed the way the world sees blue-collar work. Now it's time for the next chapter. Introducing: EVERYTHING THEY DON'T TELL YOU - The truth about leadership, business, and becoming who you're meant to be. This isn't just a rebrand. It's a new mission. It's about digging deeper into the truths of building a business, becoming the leader you need to be, and growing into the person capable of supporting it all. Expect long-form conversations, high-profile guests, and practical insights that cut through the noise. To everyone who's been part of this journey... my team, my friends, vendors, partners, clients, and especially you, the listeners—thank you from the bottom of my heart. But we're not done.  We're going to keep building something real, together. Tune into the first episode dropping August 19th! Let's go to work .

Rich Malachy doesn't just run a family business — he's redefining what that business means. From navigating generational change to scaling a bold online presence in a traditional industry, Rich gets real about ownership, visibility, and leading from the front. This episode is all about mindset: adapting, building brand equity, and never waiting for permission.  

Leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about being generous enough to grow. This week, we sit down with Joe Davis, author of The Generous Leader, to explore what it really means to lead. Not through control, but through service, humility, and transformation. Joe shares stories from his personal journey, how his perspective on leadership has changed, and how generosity became the foundation for his growth as a person and a professional. 🔵 In this episode: – Why generous leadership isn't weakness, it's strength – The difference between confidence and arrogance – How real transformation starts with self-awareness – Why legacy has more to do with how you lead today than how you'll be remembered tomorrow 🎧 Listen, subscribe, and learn more at https://blueisthenewwhite.com

Rich Ortega is the founder of On The Rock Services, but he doesn't just run a business — he leads with intention. In this episode, Rich breaks down what it means to build a culture, set a standard, and lead with purpose in the skilled trades. From coaching his team to staying disciplined as an owner, this conversation covers what it takes to do business the right way — with accountability, hustle, and heart. If you're looking for insight on growth, leadership, or creating a rock-solid company culture, you're in the right place. 🔵 Topics Covered: – Why team culture matters more than tools – How to lead like a coach, not a boss – Building systems that reinforce accountability – The mindset that separates long-term businesses from quick wins Want the video version? - https://youtu.be/KHGYvztO5Iw

Join me in a raw and real conversation with Greg Christensen, host of CMMS Radio, as we dive into why genuine win-win situations are so elusive in business. Greg shares insights into maintaining integrity, navigating the complexities of rapid growth, and staying focused on adding real value. Whether you're leading teams, managing facilities, or scaling a business, Greg's perspectives on accountability, intentionality, and authenticity provide actionable takeaways to keep your mission clear and impactful. 🔗 Listen to more: blueisthenewwhite.com/listen ✅ Subscribe for more real conversations about growth, business, and the blue-collar world.

Luke Lunkenheimer is living proof that you can rewrite your story. In this episode of Blue Is The New White, he opens up about battling addiction, facing prison, and finding salvation in sales not just as a career, but as a purpose. This one hits hard. Luke doesn't sugarcoat the pain, the hustle, or the pressure. But he shows how discipline, mindset, and real human connection can turn everything around. 🎯 If you're in the trades, in leadership, or fighting your own uphill battle, you need this. 🔵 Subscribe for more real conversations from the front lines  #blueisthenewwhite #addictionrecovery #salesleadership #tradesmindset #secondchances #mentalhealth #entrepreneurship

This week, I sat down with Shell Mendelson, an ADHD Career Coach with a powerful story and even stronger mission. We talked about what it's like to discover your neurodivergence later in life, how that changes everything, and why blue-collar careers could be the ideal match for people with ADHD. Shell's message is clear: ADHD doesn't hold you back... misunderstanding ADHD does. This episode is for anyone who's felt "too different" for the box they were told to fit in.