Driven For Growth

For 16 years, Jay built and grew Mosaic HardSurface into a respected stone company serving the Twin Cities market. But like many business owners, success came with a cost. Jay found himself wearing every hat, answering every question, and feeling like everything in the business depended on him. In this episode, Jay shares how implementing simple systems, empowering his team, and focusing on Freedo...

You didn't start your business to work longer hours, carry all the stress, and become the bottleneck. Yet that's exactly where most countertop, flooring, tile, and remodeling business owners end up. In this episode, we break down the difference between owning a business and owning a job, why so many surface pros get stuck, and the practical shifts required to build a company that can grow without...

For years, Rich and Rachel at Foothills Granite were on the revenue rollercoaster. Completely slammed one month. Nothing on the schedule the next. Rich was working ridiculous hours, the business ran through him, and he got to a breaking point where he said no dollar amount felt worth it anymore. Something had to change. In this episode, we break down exactly what they did. They built a predictable...

In this episode I break down the 5-Step B2B System we teach surface businesses to consistently land high-value design-build projects,  without relying on referrals, sales reps, or constant networking. This system has helped shops generate: 60+ builder opportunities in 90 days $3M–$4M in project pipelines Millions in recurring design-build relationships And the best part? Once the system is set up,...

If you run a countertop, flooring, tile, or material supply business, hiring can feel like a gamble. You need help. You bring someone on. And instead of relief, you get more frustration. After working with 50+ stone, tile, and flooring companies, we’ve found something important: Most hiring problems aren’t talent problems. They’re systems problems. In this episode, I break down: • The 3 hiring mis...

Logan Sharbono from 2nd Gen Hardwood is back, because he felt the first episode didn’t tell the full story. In this update, Logan goes deeper into the part most people skip: the failures, the blind spots, the leadership mistakes, and the personal rock-bottom moments that forced real change. You’ll hear how he went from “whip-cracking task master” leadership to servant leadership… and how that inte...

If you run a countertop fabrication shop and you’re busier than ever… but you’re still wondering where the money went at the end of the month, this episode is for you. In today’s episode of the Driven for Growth Podcast, I sit down with Jason Laskey, our Strategic Growth Advisor for the stone and flooring divisions. Jason has spent years inside high-output stone operations, including helping scale...

On this week's podcast we are joined by Jennifer Jones, Founder of Farmhouse Stone, who shares her real story of building a stone and tile business from her garage into a $12M+ operation, and the breaking point that forced her to change how the business ran. Jennifer opens up about: Starting Farmhouse Stone as a one-woman operation What explosive growth actually feels like when volume outpaces str...

In this behind-the-scenes episode, Justin Shaw sits down with Wes Fields our General Manager to share the story behind Driven for Growth, why it was built, what problem it actually solves, and why “Freedom First” became the foundation for everything that followed. It’s a candid conversation about: Why scaling without systems creates chaos instead of freedom How Driven for Growth evolved  Why most...

In this episode, I sit down with third-generation stone shop owner Mike Ganassa for a candid look at the realities of running and growing a fabrication business today. Mike shares what it was like stepping into the family business, the hardest parts of managing a shop, and the turning point that pushed him to start building systems instead of trying to do everything himself. He also opens up about...

If your revenue is up but your stress is too, this episode is for you. In this Hot Seat Session, Wes and I unpack why so many successful surface business owners end up stuck in firefighter mode and feeling like the “default system” holding everything together, and what to do about it. In this episode, we cover: The Owner Overload Loop and why growth often makes your life harder, not easier Why “sa...

In this episode, I sit down with Logan Sharbono of 2Gen Hardwood to break down one of the most powerful transformations we have seen inside Driven for Growth.  Logan went from a feast-or-famine operator, burnt out and stuck in hero mode, to leading a stable, fast-growing hardwood company that doubled revenue in under a year. We unpack the mindset shifts, systems, and leadership habits that moved h...

In this first Hot Seat Session, Wes and I dig into the real problems surface business owners are facing when things slow down. We cover how to quickly generate sales from your existing pipeline, why you must build a simple marketing machine (like Meta Ads) instead of relying on word of mouth, and how to stand out without racing to the bottom on price. We also break down the difference between orde...

Most business owners think culture is about team bonding, company barbecues, “family-oriented” vibes, and values written on the wall. But culture isn’t what you say, it’s what your team believes. In this episode, I break down the three hidden layers that actually shape your company culture using a simple framework: What Your Team Sees – the behaviors, routines, and habits that define your day-to-d...

interviewed John Schaeffer, owner of The Granite Shop, on the Driven For Growth Podcast. We talked about his experience inside the 90-Day Growth Engine Program™ and the results he’s created since joining. John also shared stories from his early days in business. He started as a one-man show, with a Blue Ripper, a tilt table, and a forklift with no brakes! Other shops called him “the caveman” and s...

Many stone, tile, and flooring shop owners reach a point where the business is running well — but growth just brings more demands on the owner. More questions. More issues. More fires to put out. That’s where John from The Granite Shop was when he joined the 90-Day Growth Engine Program™ He had already built a solid operation and some freedom, but he wanted to protect it while scaling to the next...

This is part three of our Three Stages of Stuck miniseries, and today we’re diving into one of the most frustrating stages of growth: The Growth Gridlock Ceiling. At this level, your business is doing well on paper. You’ve got people, processes, and revenue, but growth has stalled. The cracks are showing in quality, communication, and margins. You’re busy, but not actually moving forward. In this...

Most stone, tile, and flooring business owners eventually hit a stage where growth doesn’t make life easier—it makes it heavier. You’re still the one approving jobs, chasing estimates, juggling schedules, and putting out fires. That’s the Owner Overload Loop. In this episode, Justin Shaw shares a 5-step playbook to break free, buy back your time, and start building a team-run business that doesn’t...

One month you’re buried in work, the next it’s tumbleweeds in the pipeline. Cash flow is tight, payroll is stressful, and growth feels like luck instead of a system. Too many surface industry businesses find themselves stuck in what I call the Survival Stage Spiral . In this episode, the first of our Three Stages of Stuck mini-series, I break down: The 10 biggest mistakes that keep surface busines...

Are you the only one really driving your business forward? Too many surface pros in stone, tile, flooring and remodeling feel like they’re dragging their team instead of being supported by one. Here’s the truth: you don’t just need systems… you need leaders . That’s where the Leadership Engine comes in. It’s not about more checklists or dashboards — it’s about building people who carry the busines...

If you’ve got a team but still feel like you’re the glue holding everything together, this episode is for you. We break down the Company OS — one of the 7 core systems in our Growth Engine framework — and show you how to build the communication, execution, and performance systems that keep jobs on track, clients updated, and your team accountable. Learn how to stop firefighting and start running y...

No More Slow Months: Build a Marketing Machine That Drives Sales Tired of the feast-or-famine cycle? If your surface business slows down every few months and you're relying on word-of-mouth or referrals to stay afloat — it’s time to fix that. In this episode, we break down how to build a real Marketing Machine that consistently attracts high-quality residential and contractor clients… without disc...

If you run a countertop, flooring, tile, remodeling, or supply business and think more leads will solve your growth problem — think again. The truth? You’re not short on opportunity. You’re leaking revenue every single day. In this episode, we’ll show you how to stop chasing cold leads and start closing the warm ones already in your pipeline. You’ll learn: The 4Ps of a Sales Engine that actually c...

Tired of slashing prices just to stay busy? If you run a countertop, flooring, tile, or remodeling business — and you're constantly competing on price — you don’t have a sales problem. You have a positioning problem . In this episode, you’ll learn how to build a competitive advantage that attracts the right clients, allows you to charge premium rates, and keeps your crews busy without killing your...

Do you feel like your team just doesn’t get it —and you’re stuck making every decision yourself? Most surface pros think it’s a leadership or people problem. But it’s not. It’s a vision problem —and without real vision, culture falls flat and the business stays stuck. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why vague goals and task lists aren’t vision How to define a clear, actionable direction your team c...