Do Good Work

I sat down with John Johnson, founding CEO of Patmos Hosting, to unpack how he bootstrapped a data center company with no outside capital after a big tech host threatened to cancel a client, leading him to pursue independence by “controlling the dirt.” We talk about his rule “he who pays, rules,” why he believes VC money erodes a founder’s mission, and how owning infrastructure and going upstream...

In this podcast, I sat down with Ronan Leonard, founder of Intelligent Resourcing, to break down how he helps sales teams eliminate the 40% of their day spent manually researching companies and instead deliver real buying signals directly into the CRM so reps can take action. We talked about how fast AI is reshaping business models—Ronan compared it to waking up and finding the snow gone overnight...

How AI Will Evolve the 7 Parts of Your Business Model:  Leverage AI to enable you to solely focus on client relationships, belief and the nuances of your work 00:00 The Bold Pricing Vow 01:42 AI Labs Enter Services 03:29 Your Offer Is Not The Moat 05:00 Seven Model Ingredients 06:47 How AI Changes Each Part 15:25 The Evolved Model Blueprint 25:26 Three Breakthrough Signals 29:49 Four Steps To Rede...

In this episode, I talk with Jeffrey Meade, founding director of entrepreneurship at Paul Quinn College, about the school’s “Every Quinnite is an Entrepreneur” program, where by 2028 every student must launch a real business that generates revenue before graduating. Jeff explains why traditional schools optimize for employment but the job market is changing, making entrepreneurial thinking—creativ...

In this episode, I interviewed Patrick Rooney, a cognitive science–trained AI practitioner and founder of Leonis Strategy, about how founders mischaracterize AI by collapsing “scripted autonomy” (agents doing tasks while you step away) into personhood autonomy (will, rights, interiority). Patrick argues this isn’t just sloppy language but a leadership issue that shapes how teams relate to technolo...

In this episode, I’m joined by Jim Ristuccia, a former US Naval officer, founder/CEO, and Vistage Chair in San Diego who leads peer groups for CEOs of $5M+ companies and small business owners in the $1–10M range. We break down what actually happens inside a Vistage meeting—especially the “issue processing” that surfaces blind spots through uncomfortable but growth-producing questions. Jim shares h...

In this episode, I’m joined by Thaddius Ruszkowski, CTO at Fuzati, who’s built software platforms for over a decade, from 25-person internal workflow systems to consumer platforms with millions of users. Thadd isn’t just theorizing about AI agents; he’s running a fleet of them in parallel every day across multiple projects. We dig into what happens to value, intellectual property, and labor as pro...

What AI Native Consulting Actually Looks Like: The 4 Stages 00:00 Why AI Native Matters 02:26 Four Stage Roadmap 03:10 Stage One Enhancement 06:39 Stage Two Augmentation 14:15 Stage Three Parallel Ops 18:43 Agentic Workflow Examples 24:17 Stage Four Autonomy 33:10 Autonomy In Practice 37:36 Self Diagnostic Recap 41:52 Firm Of The Future Link to the full Substack:  https://dogoodwork.substack.com/p...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Tracy Christopherson and Michelle Troseth —co-founders of Missing Logic and authors of Polarity Intelligence—to talk about a major pivot they made from serving healthcare leaders to serving entrepreneurs, and how they had to use their own polarity framework when tension rose in their partnership. We unpack how to tell the difference between solvable problems an...

Most conversations about AI in consulting stop at productivity. Doing the same thing faster. That's the wrong frame entirely. In this episode, I break down the three form factors for digital products: information products, software products, and what I'm calling actors. An actor is an AI agent or multi-agent orchestration that deploys your expertise on your behalf without requiring your ongoing pr...

What happens when you stop thinking about AI as a replacement tool and start thinking about it as a value creation engine? In this episode, Raul shares the paradigm shift he taught his 4-year-old son about money and value creation, rebuts Mark Cuban's argument about AI token costs, and walks through how to find your own net new value as a service founder or consultant. Chapters 00:00 - A 4-Year-Ol...

In this episode, Raul and John discuss why hiring an agency feels risky today—cost, quality, outcomes, and commoditized “SEO/PPC shop” buying—then explore a shift toward providing open-ended marketing leadership focused on strategy, positioning, and execution using a mix of people, AI, automation, and outside resources. They argue project fees don’t fit a fast-changing landscape and consider retai...

In this podcast episode, JJ discusses ZeroEyes, an AI weapons-detection software-as-a-service created in response to the Parkland shooting to make existing security cameras proactive rather than reactive. The platform works with current IP cameras (720p minimum) to detect brandished firearms (not concealed weapons) and sends detections within seconds to the ZeroEyes Operation Center, where trained...

In this episode, I interviewed Dirk Vander Noot, founder of Tell Tale Ops, who runs thousands of automations monthly and helps small businesses use AI and automation without losing the human touch. He discussed what you can build with AI versus what you should build, emphasizing focusing on tasks that drain time and energy but don’t gain value from a human doing them. Dirk explains how to identify...

Your Offer Is Your Positioning: Selling in the Post Scope Era Resources: Services Stack:  https://dogoodwork.substack.com/p/the-service-stack-what-remains-when The New Value Quadrant https://dogoodwork.substack.com/p/the-new-value-quadrant-how-to-price 00:00 Budgets Tighten Up 01:54 Entering Post Scope Era 03:51 Outcomes Over Deliverables 05:36 Scope Creep vs Partnership 06:41 Clients Buy Safety 0...

The New Value Quadrant: How to Price Consulting & Agency Services in the Agentic Era Read this on the newsletter:  https://dogoodwork.substack.com/p/the-new-value-quadrant-how-to-price Services Stack  https://dogoodwork.substack.com/p/the-service-stack-what-remains-when 00:00 AI Is Deflationary: The Pricing Squeeze Hits Agencies 00:20 The “AI Discount” Story & the AI Pricing Trap 01:38 Jev...

AI's Impact on Client Services: What You Need to Know Read the newsletter:  https://open.substack.com/pub/dogoodwork/p/the-service-stack-what-remains-when 00:00 Introduction: The AI Revolution in Client Services 00:33 Real-World Applications of AI 02:41 The Future of Client Services 04:50 Understanding the Services Stack 05:46 Layer 1: Execution 07:30 Layer 2: Template Strategy 09:19 Layer 3: Judg...

In this episode, I sit down with Andy Leonard, host of the Fulfillment Project podcast to discuss the essence of true fulfillment. We delve into Andy's mission to inspire individuals to find purpose beyond material success by integrating faith, family, and meaningful work. Andy shares his insights on the importance of reflection, purposeful living, and combating the comfort-driven culture of moder...

In this insightful episode, I chat with Diane Strand, founder of JDS Production and co-founder of the nonprofit JDS Creative Academy. Diane shares her journey from working in Hollywood on popular shows like 'Friends' to focusing on empowering mainstream, foster, at-risk youth, and special needs adults through the visual, performing, and digital arts. She discusses the significance of the arts in l...

In this episode, I discuss the core desire of business clients to feel in control and organized in their ventures and the importance of metrics in channeling focus and energy towards productive actions. I introduced the concept of 'building a system' through 5 fundamental control knobs: metric, habit, process, data sources, and ownership. This method empowers business owners to effectively measure...

In this episode, let’s dive into the critical role of emotional intelligence and interior growth in achieving success in both business and personal life. We explore real-life examples from high-achieving individuals who have made transformative decisions—such as eliminating alcohol or reevaluating their morning routines—that have led to measurable improvements in their lives. The episode introduce...

Join me in this insightful episode as we welcome Jeff Schreifels, founder and principal of Veritus Group, a leader in nonprofit fundraising strategies. Jeff shares his 38 years of experience and discusses how Veritus Group's open-source processes help nonprofits enhance mid and major gifts through relationship-driven and analytically backed strategies. Learn about the principles and operational ta...

In this episode,  I engage in an insightful conversation with Andrew DeBerry, exploring the multifaceted domains of artificial intelligence (AI) and its future societal implications. The discussion delves into AI use cases, second and third-order consequences of AI adoption, and the importance of value-centered technologies in various industries such as the military, advertising, and finance. DeBe...

Join me as we welcome Robert Mangold, head of partnerships at Proof Positioning, on a mission to make primary research accessible to small businesses. In this episode, we discuss a captivating AI report that explores how service-based agencies can enhance conversations about AI with clients. Learn about the importance of transparency, building trust units, and having a clear AI policy. Robert shar...

In this episode, I sit down with Eli Rubel, CEO of Profit Lab, an organization specializing in finance, strategic planning, and bookkeeping services for agencies. Eli discusses his journey from chasing the dream of taking a company public to prioritizing financial freedom and personal happiness, which he calls the 'tricycle lifestyle.' He talks about the importance of profit goals, the intricacies...