The Lion's Edge

In this conversation, Joe Blackburn, Jason Croft, and Rich Bales of Avanti Group unpack what it looks like to walk away from medical device sales, move to a new city, and build an insurance practice that operates nothing like what the industry is used to seeing. Rich entered insurance during what agents were calling the hardest market in decades... and used it as a launching pad. While veteran age...

In this conversation, Joe Blackburn, Jason Croft, and Tyler Bloom dig into what it actually takes to walk away from a six-figure salary in the middle of a pandemic and carve out a position in one of the most niche corners of the business world. Tyler is the founder of Bloom Golf Partners, a recruiting firm built specifically for golf course superintendents and private club leaders. He started in a...

In this raw and unfiltered episode of The Lion's Edge, hosts Joe Blackburn and Jason Croft sit down with Sam and Paige Thomas to uncover how a self-taught goldsmith with zero business experience went from sleeping on floors to building a thriving multi-store jewelry empire. Joe Blackburn reveals why Sam is the secret weapon behind The Lion's success and breaks down the exact mindset shift...

Gary D Cook didn't set out to become a real estate investor. He just bought some houses to get a storage facility... and the bank kept saying yes. In this episode, Joe Blackburn and Jason Croft sit down with Gary to break down how he went from running a 4-bay mechanic shop in a town of 600 people... to owning 100+ apartment units and a flooring distribution business that's scaling fast. He...

In the latest episode of The Lion's Edge, Joe Blackburn and Jason Croft tackle one of the most gut-wrenching dilemmas every growing entrepreneur faces: how to move upmarket without abandoning the clients who got you there. Joe breaks down the "ratcheting" process... using real examples from his Inner Circle members who are crushing it (and struggling) with this exact transition. He r...

In this raw conversation, Joe Blackburn and Jason Croft expose the hidden time-wasters that keep business owners spinning their wheels instead of growing. Joe reveals his "Rubber vs. Glass" framework for identifying which problems actually deserve your attention... and which ones are just distractions masquerading as priorities. You'll learn how a clogged pipeline creates phantom pro...

Joe Blackburn and Jason Croft cut through the AI hype to reveal where business owners should actually focus their energy in 2026. Joe challenges the mainstream narrative by asking the question nobody else is asking: Where's the MUST in your business? Because people do what they must... not what they should. Jason brings real-world predictions about AI's integration into daily operations......

You're wasting your time grinding for clients who treat every dollar like their last. In this episode, Joe breaks down why moving upmarket isn't just some bougie strategy - it's survival. He'll walk you through the mechanics of why selling a $10K offer takes the same effort as closing $100K... so why the hell are you choosing the harder path? Jason Croft jumps in with the tactical...

Most people think they're "hungry" for success. They're lying to themselves. And Joe Blackburn's about to call out exactly why that comfort zone is gonna bite you in the ass when you hit your 50s and 60s. In this episode of The Lion's Edge, Joe breaks down the brutal truth about what separates real business owners from people just playing pretend... While Jason digs into how you actually CULTIVATE...

Joe Blackburn and Jason Croft rip apart the biggest lie in entrepreneurship... That "hustle harder" is the path to scaling past 7 figures. Spoiler: It's not. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why the entrepreneurs making the MOST money are obsessed with two specific things (People & P&L)... and how ignoring either one creates a ticking time bomb in your business • Joe'...

Joe Blackburn and Jason Croft tackle the most controversial topic in the entrepreneurial world... When is it OKAY to sacrifice balance for success? In this raw, unfiltered episode, you'll discover: • How to reframe "work-life balance" when you have massive goals (Joe's dad worked maniacally but Joe has ZERO resentment... here's why) • Jason's framework for communicating w...

With Q4 in full swing and 2026 around the corner, Joe Blackburn and Jason Croft cut through the noise to reveal the three critical areas that will actually move the needle in your business—right now. Joe brings his signature no-BS approach to leadership development, breaking down why even million-dollar business owners struggle with thinking small, and exactly what to do about it. He shares his pr...

Most people are living in a financial fantasy. They think they'll retire at 65 with a million bucks and cruise into the sunset. Here's the brutal truth... You're probably gonna live to 130. (Yeah, you read that right.) And inflation isn't taking a vacation. So that "comfortable retirement" you've been planning? It's gonna run out faster than your patience at the D...

Joe Blackburn tears apart the biggest lie entrepreneurs tell themselves... That they can somehow skip the hard work and jump straight to "passive income." Spoiler alert: It's bullshit. In this no-holds-barred episode, Joe breaks down why chasing multiple income streams before you've mastered ONE thing is financial suicide. He introduces the concept of your "Gusher" - th...

Most entrepreneurs are sitting around waiting for someone else to give them permission to win. Their spouse. Their parents. Their friends. The market. Even themselves. But here's the brutal truth... Permission isn't coming. In this raw episode, Joe Blackburn breaks down why "every day you put it off, the old you survives" and how that weaker version of yourself is literally killi...

Joe Blackburn just crushed his biggest mastermind event yet. 28 entrepreneurs in the room... and what came out of it will change how you think about building wealth. Because while everyone's worried about AI taking jobs... There's a massive opportunity brewing that most people are completely missing. Joe calls it the "Silver Tsunami." And it's about to dump $10 TRILLION worth...

Joe Blackburn drops some uncomfortable truths about pricing that'll make you squirm in your seat. If you've been racing to the bottom on price because you're scared nobody will pay what you're worth... this episode will slap some sense into you. Joe breaks down why most entrepreneurs price like they hate themselves. How to use "bracketing" to find your sweet spot. And the one question that'll expo...

Ever spent days losing your mind over something that turned out to be... nothing? Joe did. A simple camera setup issue turned into a 2-day rage spiral that consumed his entire world. Wrong cord. Wrong port. That's it. But here's the kicker... This wasn't just about tech problems. It's about the pattern most of us are stuck in WITHOUT realizing it. We get tunnel vision on tiny problems... Fan the f...

Most business owners spend their days griping about their "bad hires." Meanwhile... The smart ones are busy turning their existing team into profit machines. In this episode, Joe Blackburn drops some harsh truths about leadership that'll make you rethink everything. You'll discover: • Why pouring 80% of your energy into your A-player is the fastest path to explosive growth (even...

Most successful people are playing way smaller than they could be. And it's not because they lack skills... Or connections... Or even opportunities. It's because they've trapped themselves in a mental prison built out of two simple words: "What if." What if it doesn't work out? What if I lose what I've already built? What if people think I'm crazy? In this episode...

Ever notice how the most successful entrepreneurs think COMPLETELY differently about money, time, and what's possible? That's not an accident. In this raw episode, Joe Blackburn reveals the secret experiment he's been running on himself... and how just 8 weeks of skipping his morning mindset routine nearly DESTROYED his mental state. Even though his circumstances hadn't changed. Ev...

This episode of The Lion's Edge is gonna save you from being just another commodity in the marketplace. Jason and Joe dig into a critical mindset shift that separates the top 1% from the order-taking masses... And it all comes down to one thing: positioning yourself as the EXPERT, not the vendor. Jason kicks things off by referencing "The Four Conversations" - a book that fundamental...

Is your business held hostage by mediocre talent? In this hard-hitting episode, Joe Blackburn and Jason Croft reveal why most business owners are losing the battle for A-players without even realizing it. Joe shares the mindset shift that transformed his recruiting strategy from "who's available?" to "who's the best?" - regardless if they're looking for a job or not. You'll discover why most elite...

Most people are trapped in the daily grind... Reacting to whatever life throws at them. But the true lions? They're playing a completely different game. In this episode, Joe Blackburn and Jason Croft break down why having a 10-year vision separates the merely "good" from those pursuing GREATNESS. Learn why elite performers don't just plan next quarter - they visualize where they&...

Think you're too busy to level up? In this raw and unfiltered episode, Joe Blackburn and Jason Croft expose the biggest lie business owners tell themselves: "I don't have enough time." You'll discover: • Why adding MORE to your plate isn't the answer (and what actually is) • The "Cut The Bulls**t" exercise that instantly creates space in your life • How to stop...