The IGNITE Podcast with Josh Stone

Your business shouldn’t collapse without you.     If stepping away feels risky, it’s not bad luck.   It’s feedback.     In this episode, I break down why most consultancies struggle to run without the founder — and why it has nothing to do with effort, talent, or commitment.     It comes down to five predictable constraints:     - Decisions funnelled th...

Businesses don’t fall apart from delivery. They fall apart at the top.     I’ve coached hundreds of consultancy owners.   I’ve sat on real boards.   I’ve scaled from $3M → $30M with 20 shareholders.   And I’ve seen how fast a business can fracture when governance isn’t set up properly.     This week’s episode is the conversation most founders avoid — until they c...

You didn’t start your business to be trapped in it. And most consultancy owners never make the shift. They stay stuck in the weeds — buried in drawings, reports, client issues — while growth flatlines and profit stalls.   In this episode, we unpack the exact framework for stepping out of day-to-day delivery… and into true business ownership.   You’ll discover: - Why your “busyness” is a...

Every reply, every CC, every “quick email” feels harmless.   Until you add it up.   That’s 10–15 hours a week of low-value admin time… done by the highest-paid person in the company.   You.     In this week’s episode, I unpack the exact system I use (and teach our Boardroom clients) to reclaim that time—without missing a single critical message.     You’ll learn:...

Remember that feeling when every project, every client, every dollar depended on you?   That first million felt exciting, but also exhausting.   Because deep down, you knew this wasn’t freedom.       Most consultancy owners never get past that stage.   They stay stuck in the loop. Firefighting, over-delivering, under-living.   Their business grows… but only if th...

You can feel it.   The workload’s surging, profit’s thinning, and you’re still the glue.   But there’s that one person on your team who keeps showing up.   Hungry. Reliable. Waiting to be tapped on the shoulder.     This episode is for the moment you finally say it out loud:   “I’m ready to elevate them… but what if they’re not ‘there’ yet?”     I’ll walk yo...

You’ve tried the courses, the frameworks, the pep talks.   You’re smart. Your team’s capable. Your clients like you.   So why does growth still feel like pushing a boulder uphill?   Because “we do everything for everyone” quietly guts your margins and your mojo.   This week’s episode, I tell the truth most won’t: generalists get ground down on price while specialists get chosen...

Most consultancy owners obsess over revenue.   But revenue without presence is meaningless.     In this week’s episode, I unpack the exact roadmap to scaling past $5M, $10M+ without sacrificing family or freedom.     Here’s what we cover:   – The dangerous belief that “more hours = more growth.”   – The simple process to design your ideal week and protect it. &nb...

Ever feel like your business is slowly crushing you?   You’ve worked hard to get past $2M.   You’ve built a team, won great clients, delivered big projects.   But somehow… everything still depends on you.     Invoices. HR. Projects. Every problem finds its way back to your desk.     The weight doesn’t ease… it grows heavier.   And the more you juggle, the mo...

Your clients have been trained to push you down on price.   It’s built into their playbook.   They’ll smile, nod… then ask you to shave just 5%.   And every time you say yes…   …you don’t just cut into this project’s profit.   You cut into the future of your business.   You weaken your positioning.   You chip away at the very respect this industry once held. &nbs...

Most consultancy owners never plan their shareholder structure.     And when they don’t?     Here’s what happens:    - The founder gets stuck carrying the business long after they want out.    - Growth stalls because no one else has skin in the game.    - When it’s time to retire, there’s no exit plan - just a business that’s worth far less than it...

Ever feel like your projects bleed hours...but can’t pinpoint why?   The team’s working hard, but at the end of the month the margins just don’t line up.   It’s like watching profit drip out of a leaky bucket. Slow. Invisible. Relentless.     And here’s the kicker.   It’s not just about fees.   It’s not just about delivery.   It’s what happens, or doesn’t happen,...

You’re great at what you do. Your clients love you.     But deep down, you know this isn’t sustainable.     Long hours. Too much delivery. And growth? It's stalled.     You didn’t start your consultancy to feel like an underpaid, overworked employee again.     In this episode, I break down why being a great technician isn’t enough to build a great business…...

You’ve got the clients. The revenue is decent. But deep down, you know growth has stalled.     You’re firefighting every day.     Projects depend on you.     And every time you think about systems… it feels like one more thing you don’t have time for.       Here’s the truth: Without a Core Operating System, you’ll never build a $10M consultancy that run...

Everyone talks about momentum. Wins. Big growth.     But no one talks about the days when nothing’s working.     This episode is for the consultancy owners in the trenches—where things feel uncertain, overwhelming, and hard.     In this episode, I open the lid on the truth most consultancy owners won’t admit:     - What to do when you’re stuck in a flat spot...

You’ve got the team.     The clients.     The project pipeline is full.         So why does growth still feel stalled?         Why are you still stuck juggling delivery, chasing cash flow, and wondering why your business isn’t scaling?         The real reason?         You’re missing the vision that...

You’ve built a good consultancy.        You’re proud of what you’ve created.           But lately?       You’re exhausted…        The growth has stalled…      And no matter how early you wake up or how late you work…            The needle won’t move.      &nbs...

You didn’t start your consultancy to work weekends, second-guess your value, or wonder if this whole thing is even worth it.     But every time you say yes to shaving fees just to win a job…     You say no to profit.   No to breathing room.   No to building a business that serves you.     In this episode, I share:   - Why fee-cutting is almost always a...

If your calendar is full, but your business isn’t moving forward. This episode is for you.       Let’s be blunt:       Most consultancies are over-managed and under-led.       You’ve got weekly team catch-ups. Project meetings. Site reviews.       You’re spending 40+ hours a week “working”... but are you making any strategic progress? &nb...

Chasing money that’s already yours?     You’ve done the work. You’ve sent the invoice. But three months later… you’re still waiting to get paid.       And if you’re aiming to grow to $10M and beyond, you can’t afford that.       In this episode, we cover:   Why slow cashflow stalls growth (and keeps you stuck in delivery)   The invisible cost of be...

"We just can’t find good people"... I hear this from so many consultancy owners.     Here’s what I’ve learned after coaching 100+ consultancy businesses:     You don’t have a hiring problem.     You have a visibility problem.       The right people don’t know you exist.     Because you’re not posting.     You’re not positioning. &nbs...

Thinking about bringing on another director in your business?   Don’t rush it. It’s one of the biggest decisions you’ll make as an owner.     In this episode, I unpack:   —  The critical difference between shareholders and directors     — Why “try before you buy” matters more than ever   — The real risks, liabilities, and legal responsibilities directors tak...

Gut feel isn’t a strategy. Data is.   Today’s episode covers:   - Why tracking everything is just as bad as tracking nothing   - The critical weekly vs monthly metrics every consultancy should track   - The 5 key types of data you must track (and how often)   - How better data = better decisions, better profit, and better team performance         If you...

If you’re anything like most consultancy owners I work with, you didn’t start your business to become an invoice chaser or spreadsheet wrangler.       But somehow, that’s what it’s turned into.       You’re running a serious consultancy—$1M, $3M, maybe even $5M in revenue.   But you’re still doing admin.    Still across payroll.    Still juggl...

Going national sounds glamorous, until you’re knee-deep in complexity and culture drift.     The truth?      Expanding your consultancy into new states isn’t just about hiring staff and opening offices.  It’s about getting crystal clear on your strategy, building with intent, and staying deeply connected to your team. No matter where they are.   This episode dive...