The AC Method

Is "how much should I pay my team?" the question that keeps you up at night? Let’s dive into the taboo topic of pay structures, breaking down the pros and cons of salary-only, commission-only, and hybrid models. Underpaying your sales team is a fatal mistake. So to avoid creating a civil war between sales and production, and create and maintain your company culture, you should start with your comp...

Ready to grow your business by adding new services? In this episode, Aaron pulls back the curtain on his own costly mistakes and hard-won victories with vertical integration. What are the true costs of growth? Timelines and operational headaches nobody talks about. Learn how to decide when to bring a new service in-house, how to avoid crippling learning curves, and why starting small is the ultima...

In this interview, Aaron sits down with David Goodson , CEO of Impact , to unpack how he grew his company from a garage startup into a $10M operation with 50+ people and a 70,000 sq. ft. facility. David shares his philosophy on leadership, why culture always comes before profits, and how designing efficient workflows and empowering people has shaped Impact into one of the most respected companies...

In this interview, Aaron sits down with Annabel from SEGD to explore how design goes far beyond what we see—it shapes how we feel, move, and remember experiences. From the World War II Museum to Olympic exhibits and even the way airports are designed, Annabel shares how thoughtful design and signage transform ordinary spaces into immersive journeys. Together, they dive into the role of colors, the...

In this interview, Aaron sits down with Dave Stewart, CEO of Design Huddle, to explore how his platform is transforming the way clients, printers, and designers work together. By embedding an intuitive design tool directly into websites, Design Huddle empowers customers to create print-ready artwork without endless back-and-forth revisions. From Shopify and WordPress integration to bridging the ga...

This episode dives into the magic of retro sign lighting—chasers, tracers, and marquee effects—and why “old-school” still grabs attention (and customers). Aaron sits down with a lighting veteran to unpack controllers, patterns, color temperature choices, and practical ways to bring kinetic motion back to your installs. From go‑kart tracks to storefronts, learn how to design lighting that sells, no...

This week Aaron opens up about one of the biggest roadblocks that stops aspiring entrepreneurs: fear. Through stories from the Iron Oaks Society and his own business journey, Aaron explains why bravery alone won’t carry you forward, but discipline will. From making your bed in the morning to building consistent habits, Aaron breaks down how small steps lead to big results, and why accountability i...

This week, Aaron dives deep into the single biggest issue that can break any business: communication. Through real-life examples—from clients misunderstanding sign specs to employees missing assignments—Aaron uncovers why most leaders think they’re communicating, when in reality they’re not. 🔥 Topics Covered: ✅ The 3 key elements of real communication ✅ Why feedback matters more than the messag...

This week, Aaron goes deep into the hard lessons his company has learned by reviewing past estimates—the good, the bad, and the costly. From missing small details to underbidding massive projects, he breaks down the most common pitfalls that can destroy profitability.  If you’ve ever wondered why your projects take longer, cost more, or eat away at your margins, this episode will save you from rep...

In this episode, we go behind the scenes of a real quarterly meeting—wins, losses, awkward moments, and all. From welcoming new hires to unveiling the design for a 28,000 sq. ft. facility, Aaron shares how openness about numbers, goals, and even mistakes strengthens culture and drives alignment. You’ll hear candid lessons from a tough project loss, why profit sharing matters, and the unexpected wa...

This week, Aaron sits down with Clay from Thunder Laser USA — and trust us, it’s not just a conversation about machines. It’s about how one family business turned a quilting shop into a tech-driven operation with 70+ employees, a national sales footprint, and an expanding catalog of cutting-edge tools. From laser-cut acrylic to engraving Stanley cups and prepping for UV printing, Clay breaks down...

This week on *The AC Method*, Aaron sits down with Ryan from Striventa and Hyperdrive to unpack why most business websites fail to generate leads—and what you can do to fix it fast. Whether you’re in blue-collar services or scaling a national brand, this episode breaks down the real-world digital strategies that get results. Ryan shares what most agencies don’t tell you, how search engine indexing...

In this solo episode, Aaron opens up about what confidence really means, how it develops, and why people often mistake it for arrogance. From his own experiences in leadership and martial arts training to being misunderstood and even called intimidating, Aaron walks through the internal work required to become truly grounded — and how to help others get there too. If you’re a leader, parent, or so...

In this short but high-impact solo episode, Aaron shares how he's preparing his businesses to weather an economic correction. From rising tariffs and permit delays to inflation and material price hikes, he gives a tactical breakdown on how to defend your margins, communicate clearly with clients, and keep your team steady when times get rocky. This is the real playbook for staying profitable when...

In this episode, Aaron unpacks a hard truth: most of us confuse motion with progress. After meeting with a new mentor, he was forced to face the fact that he had over a dozen active “projects” pulling his focus — and that being busy doesn’t mean you’re growing. He breaks down how to identify what’s actually worth your time, how to cut low-ROI tasks, and why the real bottleneck might be your own in...

In this episode, Aaron shares a powerful mindset shift around hiring, especially as he explores acquiring a local sign company. What starts as a discussion about evaluating a deal quickly becomes a deep dive into core values, people analysis, and what most leaders get wrong when hiring or restructuring their team. If you've ever said “there’s no good people out there,” this episode will challenge...

This special episode features Aaron Clippinger's full presentation from the ISA Sign Expo in Las Vegas: Are You the Leader Your Company Needs? In this high-impact talk, Aaron dives into the evolving role of CEOs and presidents, what leadership really looks like in the sign industry, and how culture, vision, and accountability separate startups from growth-stage companies. Whether you're running a...

  In this episode, Aaron breaks down what it actually means to build a real leadership team — not just taskmasters or title-holders. Inspired by the book  Traction , he shares the importance of vision, buy-in, and defining core values that truly guide hiring, culture, and execution. From calling out weak leadership habits to sharing the questions that align your team for the long haul, this episod...

What if your body could open doors before you even speak? That’s exactly how Kyle (@excaliburrcoaching) sees it—and lives it. In this powerful episode, we dive deep into the mindset, discipline, and systems behind Excaliburr: a coaching method designed to build high-value men by optimizing strength, mobility, clarity and long-term health. Kyle breaks down the  real reasons  most men fail to stay h...

Aaron is finally building the dream shop—but with a big twist: the company brings in $6 million a year, and the building? It’s going to cost $10 million. In this episode, Aaron shares the real numbers, the missteps (including a financial doc mistake that cost him a building), and how a custom lease-to-own deal is making it possible. Plus: the mindset, systems, and back-to-basics approach he's usin...

After a rare five-day break, Aaron returns recharged—and immediately digs into his balance sheet. This time, he's targeting inventory: how it’s managed, stored, and often misused. In this episode, he shares real tactics to turn your raw materials into measurable profit and explains how inventory control directly impacts your bottom line. If you’re looking to save 10–12% in your shop without layoff...

In this episode, Aaron shares a hard-earned lesson about boundaries, red flags, and knowing when to walk away—even from a six-figure project. Inspired by an article from Dale at Media 1, “The Power of No” , this one is all about protecting your team, your time, and your bottom line. Aaron walks through a real-world example: a national sign company pushing his team to take on a complex install with...

This week’s episode hits two sides of the business: what your sales team should be doing—and why they’re probably not. After stepping into the controller role for a month, Aaron shares what he uncovered behind the curtain: bad entries, skipped steps, and $1.2 million sitting in accounts receivable. From onboarding clients the right way to having real money conversations, this is a must-listen for...

In this episode of The AC Method, Aaron shares the evolving story of a controller crisis that’s turning into a powerful lesson on hiring and interviewing. After back-to-back controller hires fell short due to dishonesty, Aaron reveals how he completely revamped his interview process to ensure candidates truly have the skills they claim. From trade show insights on the latest tech to key hiring str...

In this episode of The AC Method, Aaron Clipinger—CEO of SquareCoil—shares his biggest takeaway from the ISA Sign Expo: your customers aren’t just clients—they’re part of your team. Reflecting on real conversations from the show floor, Aaron explores how building meaningful relationships with your customers can fuel innovation, improve your service, and reignite your passion for leadership. From o...