Above The Business

In week two of the five-part SCALE milestones series, Bradley dives into the "C" - why hitting $1M in revenue isn't enough if you want to become the architect of your business.The Key Insight: Growth Eats ProfitBradley breaks down a crucial misconception many business owners have: Growth does not equal profit. Growth eats profit.Just like pushing harder on the gas pedal burns more fuel, aggressive growth requires more investment in two key areas:Team capacity (hiring more people)Marketing dollarsWhile growth can lead to more profitability long-term, in the short term it creates downward pressure on your margins.The Rule of 40Bradley introduces a simple framework to balance growth and profitability. The Rule of 40 is straightforward math:Year-over-year revenue growth % + Net profit % = 40 or aboveReal-World Examples:Venture-backed startups: 100% growth + (-60%) profitability = 40 (works for them because they have financial backers)Conservative client: 52% profitability + 2% growth = 54 (now reinvesting to grow faster)Aggressive growth client: 30% growth + 10% profitability = 40Bradley's GuidelinesMinimum thresholds: Never architect your business for less than 10% growth or less than 10% profitability.The "perfect" Rule of 40 number: Actually 51, not 40Target 25% net profit (fantastic profitability range)Target 26% growth (doubles your company every 3 years)Bradley shares how 26% compounded growth works: A $2.5M company becomes $5M in 3 years, then $10M in the next 3 years - realistic but ambitious growth.The Bottom LineGetting to $1M is milestone #1 (Sustainable Revenue), but milestone #2 requires that million-dollar business to maintain Consistent Growth & Profitability. It's the balance between these two that separates true business architects from one-time winners.Next week: Bradley reveals the "A" in the SCALE milestones.Thanks to our sponsors...BlueprintOS equips business owners to design and install an operating system that runs like clockwork. Through BlueprintOS, you will grow and develop your leadership, clarify your culture and business game plan, align your operations with your KPIs, develop a team of A-Players, and execute your playbooks. Register to join us at an upcoming WebClass when you visit www.blueprintos.com!Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch.Club Capital is the ultimate partner for financial management and marketing services, designed specifically for insurance agencies, fitness franchises, and youth soccer organizations. As the nation's largest accounting and financial advisory firm for insurance agencies, Club Capital proudly serves over 1,000 agency locations across the country—and we’re just getting started. With Club Capital, you get more than just services; you get a dedicated account manager backed by a team of specialists committed to your success. From monthly accounting and tax preparation to CFO services and innovative digital marketing, we’ve got you covered. Ready to experience the transformative power of Club Capital? Schedule your free demo today at club.capital and see the difference firsthand. Make sure you mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast to get 50% off your one time onboarding fee!

In this episode, Bradley Hamner sits down with Steve Suggs, a veteran in the sales industry with over 42 years of experience. Steve shares his insights on building high-performing sales teams, identifying top talent, and adapting to changes in the sales landscape.Key Topics DiscussedIdentifying and recruiting sales talent that will thrive in today's market.Practical tools for sales management and team development.Strategies from Steve's best-selling book "Can They Sell."How to adapt your sales approach in an evolving business environment.The importance of continuous training and development for sales teams.About Steve SuggsSteve brings four decades of sales expertise as a successful producer, manager, author, speaker, and consultant. After graduating with a business degree from Lipscomb University, Steve spent 15 years at Northwestern Mutual as an MDRT producer and Sales Leader before co-founding Sales Manage Solutions, where he's been a partner for the past 25 years.Steve's consulting work includes conducting up to 50 calls weekly with agents, helping them hire and develop exceptional sales and service teams. His approach combines proven experience with practical application—every strategy he shares is one he implements daily.Connect with SteveSales Manage Solutions website: https://salesmanage.com/LinkedIn: Steve Suggs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevesuggs/Book: "Can They Sell" https://salesmanage.com/sms-tools/can-they-sell/Thanks to our sponsors...BlueprintOS equips business owners to design and install an operating system that runs like clockwork. Through BlueprintOS, you will grow and develop your leadership, clarify your culture and business game plan, align your operations with your KPIs, develop a team of A-Players, and execute your playbooks. Register to join us at an upcoming WebClass when you visit www.blueprintos.com!Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch.Club Capital is the ultimate partner for financial management and marketing services, designed specifically for insurance agencies, fitness franchises, and youth soccer organizations. As the nation's largest accounting and financial advisory firm for insurance agencies, Club Capital proudly serves over 1,000 agency locations across the country—and we’re just getting started. With Club Capital, you get more than just services; you get a dedicated account manager backed by a team of specialists committed to your success. From monthly accounting and tax preparation to CFO services and innovative digital marketing, we’ve got you covered. Ready to experience the transformative power of Club Capital? Schedule your free demo today at club.capital and see the difference firsthand. Don’t forget to visit club.capital and mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast!

In this episode, Bradley kicks off a new five-part series on the milestones that mark the journey from Rainmaker to Architect of your business.The SCALE MilestonesBradley introduces the five key milestones you can check off along your journey - what he calls the SCALE milestones. Today's focus is on the first letter: S for Sustainable Revenue.Bradley shares how this framework came about when a podcast host asked him how someone knows they've become the architect of their business. That question led him to develop these tangible checkpoints.Milestone #1: Sustainable RevenueThe hard facts Bradley shares:96% of small businesses don't reach their 10th birthday.91-96% never cross $1M in annual revenue.Bradley explains that reaching $1M is more than just bragging rights - it's a crucial threshold where the game changes. He's observed businesses that took 15 years to reach their first million, then just 4 years to add their second million. According to data from Club Capital, real economies of scale kick in at this point.Coming NextNext week, Bradley will dive into the "C" in the SCALE milestones, continuing to build a roadmap for the Rainmaker to Architect journey.Thanks to our sponsors...BlueprintOS equips business owners to design and install an operating system that runs like clockwork. Through BlueprintOS, you will grow and develop your leadership, clarify your culture and business game plan, align your operations with your KPIs, develop a team of A-Players, and execute your playbooks. Register to join us at an upcoming WebClass when you visit www.blueprintos.com!Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch.Club Capital is the ultimate partner for financial management and marketing services, designed specifically for insurance agencies, fitness franchises, and youth soccer organizations. As the nation's largest accounting and financial advisory firm for insurance agencies, Club Capital proudly serves over 1,000 agency locations across the country—and we’re just getting started. With Club Capital, you get more than just services; you get a dedicated account manager backed by a team of specialists committed to your success. From monthly accounting and tax preparation to CFO services and innovative digital marketing, we’ve got you covered. Ready to experience the transformative power of Club Capital? Schedule your free demo today at club.capital and see the difference firsthand. Don’t forget to visit club.capital and mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast!

From humble beginnings to national recognition, Coach P’s journey proves that leadership is a choice—and growth is a daily decision. If you're ready to lead better, think bigger, and build a business that doesn’t depend on you… this episode is your playbook.In this powerhouse episode of The Above The Business Podcast, Bradley Hamner welcomes back a fan favorite—David Peterson, better known as Coach P. As a multi-location agency owner, business coach, and co-leader of the popular Scale and Profit Summits, Coach P brings clarity and raw honesty to the challenges business owners face as they try to grow their teams, their revenue, and themselves.Bradley and Coach P dive deep into what it really takes to turn big dreams into real results—from the personal transformation required to lead at scale, to the mindset shifts necessary to sustain long-term growth. Whether you're stuck at $500k in revenue or pushing into multi-million territory, this episode will challenge and inspire you to recommit to the process and to your own development.What You’ll Learn:Why dreaming big isn’t enough—and how to actually start the journeyThe compounding power of consistent effort over time (a.k.a. the “penny doubling” principle)The stages of growth Coach P experienced from 1 employee to 30+Why who you become is more important than any revenue numberHow to stay focused amid success and growing opportunitiesWhy “being yourself” is the most underrated leadership strategyThe role of solitude and vision in growing above the businessHow Coach P holds his team accountable without micromanagingCoach P's 5 Key Attributes When Hiring:FunCoachableHardworkingTrustworthyNot dumb (his words—not ours!)Memorable Quotes:“I just never stopped. That’s the difference. We didn’t slow down—we sped up.”“You don’t have to be perfect. Just don’t miss two days in a row.”“You can’t lead well if you don’t know who you are.”“If I’ve got someone who’s fun, coachable, hardworking, trustworthy, and not dumb—I can teach them to win.”Connect with Coach P:Follow Coach P on Instagram: @SavingWithDavid.Visit: CoachPConsulting.com to learn about the next Scale and Profit Summit.Learn more about The Rainmaker to Architect Journey:Register for Bradley’s live Operator to Owner WebClass at https://blueprintos.com Thanks to our sponsors...BlueprintOS equips business owners to design and install an operating system that runs like clockwork. Through BlueprintOS, you will grow and develop your leadership, clarify your culture and business game plan, align your operations with your KPIs, develop a team of A-Players, and execute your playbooks. Register to join us at an upcoming WebClass when you visit www.blueprintos.com!Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch.Club Capital is the ultimate partner for financial management and marketing services, designed specifically for insurance agencies, fitness...

In this episode of Above the Business, Bradley dives into what he believes is the single most important thing you can do for your business: get above it and think about it. He explores the idea that stepping back and creating space to reflect isn’t just a good idea—it’s essential to long-term success.Bradley revisits the three core problems most small business owners face:Lack of clarity.Lack of systems and processes.Chronic stress, fatigue, and overwhelm.He then unpacks solutions to each:A roadmap for clarity.An operating system for scale.A commitment to self-leadership for energy and confidence.This episode builds on previous discussions about protecting your confidence and energizing your team. Bradley now zeroes in on your responsibility to think deeply about your business—away from the noise and distraction of the daily grind. Drawing from lessons in The Road Less Stupid by Keith Cunningham and Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell, he challenges you to embrace “thinking time” as the ultimate CEO leverage tool.Thanks to our sponsors...BlueprintOS equips business owners to design and install an operating system that runs like clockwork. Through BlueprintOS, you will grow and develop your leadership, clarify your culture and business game plan, align your operations with your KPIs, develop a team of A-Players, and execute your playbooks. Register to join us at an upcoming WebClass when you visit www.blueprintos.com!Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch.Club Capital is the ultimate partner for financial management and marketing services, designed specifically for insurance agencies, fitness franchises, and youth soccer organizations. As the nation's largest accounting and financial advisory firm for insurance agencies, Club Capital proudly serves over 1,000 agency locations across the country—and we’re just getting started. With Club Capital, you get more than just services; you get a dedicated account manager backed by a team of specialists committed to your success. From monthly accounting and tax preparation to CFO services and innovative digital marketing, we’ve got you covered. Ready to experience the transformative power of Club Capital? Schedule your free demo today at club.capital and see the difference firsthand. Don’t forget to visit club.capital and mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast!

In this episode of The Above The Business Podcast, Bradley sits down with best-selling author and customer/employee experience expert Joey Coleman. Known for helping companies like Zappos, Volkswagen, and NASA turn new hires into loyal team members, Joey breaks down how you can dramatically improve retention in your business—not by adding more perks, but by transforming your first 100 days.They explore the "Eight Phases of the Employee Journey" that Joey outlines in his latest Wall Street Journal bestseller, Never Lose an Employee Again. You’ll learn how to:Make your new hires feel welcome and confident on Day 1Eliminate first-week drop-off and ghostingMove from transactional hiring to transformational engagementDesign a memorable employee experience that drives performance and loyaltyWhether you're an overwhelmed business owner, a leader trying to grow a team, or just tired of losing great people, this episode is a blueprint for retaining top talent and designing a business that runs without you.🔑 In This Episode You'll Learn:Why the employee experience starts before the first dayThe biggest mistakes leaders make in onboardingThe difference between hearing and listening to your teamHow to personalize recognition to increase loyaltyWhat small business owners can borrow from companies like Zappos and WhirlpoolHow Joey’s First 100 Days® framework transforms culture and retention👤 Meet Joey Coleman:Joey Coleman helps organizations keep their people—both customers and employees. With two best-selling books, including Never Lose an Employee Again, and a client list that includes Whirlpool, Principal Financial, and Volkswagen Australia, Joey is one of the world’s leading voices on designing exceptional experiences. He’s spoken on all seven continents and has a track record of making big impacts through creative strategies that turn first impressions into lasting loyalty.📚 Resources & Links:Joey’s Website: https://joeycoleman.comGet the book: Never Lose an Employee Again https://joeycoleman.com/books/never-lose-an-employee-again/🗓️ Don’t Miss This If:You’re tired of hiring and re-hiring for the same rolesYou want a team that’s fully bought in, not just clocking inYou’re ready to stop surviving and start designing a business that runs without youThanks to our sponsors...BlueprintOS equips business owners to design and install an operating system that runs like clockwork. Through BlueprintOS, you will grow and develop your leadership, clarify your culture and business game plan, align your operations with your KPIs, develop a team of A-Players, and execute your playbooks. Register to join us at an upcoming WebClass when you visit www.blueprintos.com!Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch.Club Capital is the ultimate partner for financial management and marketing services, designed specifically for insurance agencies, fitness franchises, and youth soccer organizations. As the nation's largest accounting and financial advisory firm for insurance agencies, Club Capital proudly serves over 1,000 agency locations across the country—and we’re just getting started. With Club Capital, you

In part two of the Lead Yourself First series, Bradley dives deep into the crucial role of energy in leadership—and why giving your team your best energy is the most important thing you can do for them. Drawing inspiration from powerful business minds like Peter Drucker, Dan Sullivan, and Alex Hormozi, this episode makes the case that your team doesn’t just follow your words—they absorb your energy.Bradley breaks down how small business owners can protect and replenish their energy through practical frameworks like the Buyback Principle, Time and Energy Audits, and the Replacement Ladder. If you’ve ever felt burned out, overwhelmed, or like your business can't run without you, this episode is packed with actionable steps to help you shift from Rainmaker to Architect—so you can lead your team with clarity, confidence, and contagious energy.🧠 In This Episode, You'll Learn:Why your energy—not your tactics—is the most valuable thing you bring to your team.How 72% of small business owners report daily stress—and what to do about it.What McKinsey found about the founder's energy in companies under 50 employees.The three strategic tools to help buy back your time and protect your energy:The Buyback Principle – Understand your hourly value and invest in reclaiming your time.Time and Energy Audits – Identify which tasks drain or fuel you, and delegate accordingly.The Replacement Ladder – A step-by-step path to remove yourself from the daily grind.The "Know Your Numbers" Intensive Workshop is open for registration! Join Bradley and guest expert Sutton Sabinash, one of Club Capital's CFO Advisors, for this live workshop on May 27th at 10 AM CST! Learn more and save your seat here: https://intensive.blueprintos.comThanks to our sponsors...BlueprintOS equips business owners to design and install an operating system that runs like clockwork. Through BlueprintOS, you will grow and develop your leadership, clarify your culture and business game plan, align your operations with your KPIs, develop a team of A-Players, and execute your playbooks. Register to join us at an upcoming WebClass when you visit www.blueprintos.com!Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch.Club Capital is the ultimate partner for financial management and marketing services, designed specifically for insurance agencies, fitness franchises, and youth soccer organizations. As the nation's largest accounting and financial advisory firm for insurance agencies, Club Capital proudly serves over 1,000 agency locations across the country—and we’re just getting started. With Club Capital, you get more than just services; you get a dedicated account manager backed by a team of specialists committed to your success. From monthly accounting and tax preparation to CFO services and innovative digital marketing, we’ve got you covered. Ready to experience the transformative power of Club Capital? Schedule your free demo today at club.capital and see the difference firsthand. Don’t forget to visit club.capital and mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast!

In this episode, Bradley sits down with Scott Grates — national best-selling author, entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and highly sought-after coach for small business owners. Scott shares his journey of starting multiple businesses from scratch and scaling them into multi-million dollar operations, all while competing against large corporate players.Scott dives into his latest book, Referrals Done Right, and unpacks the Infinite Referral Advantage system — a simple yet powerful framework that helps entrepreneurs build lasting partnerships within their communities. From collaborating with fellow small business owners to partnering with local schools and community organizations, Scott reveals how relationship optimization is the new secret weapon for sustainable business growth.As a father of three, Scott also discusses his passion project: preparing students for real-world success before they ever leave the classroom. Whether you're looking to build deeper connections, amplify your local impact, or simply generate more qualified referrals, this conversation is packed with practical takeaways you can start using immediately.Connect with Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottgrates/Thanks to our sponsors...BlueprintOS equips business owners to design and install an operating system that runs like clockwork. Through BlueprintOS, you will grow and develop your leadership, clarify your culture and business game plan, align your operations with your KPIs, develop a team of A-Players, and execute your playbooks. Register to join us at an upcoming WebClass when you visit www.blueprintos.com!Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch.Club Capital is the ultimate partner for financial management and marketing services, designed specifically for insurance agencies, fitness franchises, and youth soccer organizations. As the nation's largest accounting and financial advisory firm for insurance agencies, Club Capital proudly serves over 1,000 agency locations across the country—and we’re just getting started. With Club Capital, you get more than just services; you get a dedicated account manager backed by a team of specialists committed to your success. From monthly accounting and tax preparation to CFO services and innovative digital marketing, we’ve got you covered. Ready to experience the transformative power of Club Capital? Schedule your free demo today at club.capital and see the difference firsthand. Don’t forget to visit club.capital and mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast!

In this week's episode of The Above The Business Podcast, Bradley Hamner kicks off a powerful new three-part series designed to help you refocus on what matters most in building a business that doesn’t depend solely on you. After covering your business roadmap and operating system in recent episodes, Bradley now turns his attention to you, the entrepreneur.The core message?The most important thing you can do for yourself is to protect your confidence.Drawing on personal experience and proven processes, Bradley shares a practical framework to help you maintain clarity, avoid burnout, and show up strong for your business week after week. Because when you’re tired, stressed, or overwhelmed, you’re not at your best—and your business feels it.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:The recap of the two core business problems previously addressed:Lack of clarity (Point A → Point B → Plan).Lack of systems and processes (Blueprint OS).Why exhaustion, stress, and overwhelm are more common than you think—and what to do about it.The bold claim: Your confidence is your most important asset.How to protect that confidence with three simple but powerful rhythms:Weekly planning (especially on Sunday evenings).Quarterly reviews that highlight your wins.Annual reflections that bring your year into perspective.How weekly wins—even during hard weeks—can fuel your momentum and mindset.The importance of community: why surrounding yourself with like-minded entrepreneurs helps you see you’re not alone.Thanks to our sponsors...BlueprintOS equips business owners to design and install an operating system that runs like clockwork. Through BlueprintOS, you will grow and develop your leadership, clarify your culture and business game plan, align your operations with your KPIs, develop a team of A-Players, and execute your playbooks. Register to join us at an upcoming WebClass when you visit www.blueprintos.com!Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch.Club Capital is the ultimate partner for financial management and marketing services, designed specifically for insurance agencies, fitness franchises, and youth soccer organizations. As the nation's largest accounting and financial advisory firm for insurance agencies, Club Capital proudly serves over 1,000 agency locations across the country—and we’re just getting started. With Club Capital, you get more than just services; you get a dedicated account manager backed by a team of specialists committed to your success. From monthly accounting and tax preparation to CFO services and innovative digital marketing, we’ve got you covered. Ready to experience the transformative power of Club Capital? Schedule your free demo today at club.capital and see the difference firsthand. Don’t forget to visit club.capital and mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast!

In this episode of The Above The Business Podcast, Bradley is joined by seasoned entrepreneur and systems strategist Nick Berry, a man with over two decades of experience in scaling businesses, optimizing operations, and helping owners get out of their own way.Nick has built, co-founded, or acquired dozens of small businesses, with multiple successful exits and consistent recognition for growth, client satisfaction, and company culture. His entrepreneurial journey led him to develop the Business Alignment System, a powerful framework now used by thousands of business owners to better align leadership, strategy, and systems.After exiting his most recent venture, Nick founded Redesigned.Business to help B2B service companies overcome operational inertia and unlock intentional, repeatable growth. He also hosts The Business Owner’s Journey podcast and has co-authored five best-selling books.If you’re a business owner who feels stuck in the day-to-day, this conversation is for you. Nick shares practical strategies to regain clarity, scale with purpose, and finally build a business that works for you—not the other way around.In this episode, you’ll learn:How to identify and eliminate operational bottlenecks.Why alignment is more important than hustle.The real reason many businesses plateau—and how to push past it.What intentional growth actually looks like.The biggest myths business owners believe about scaling.How to move from reactive to proactive leadership.Whether you're running a multi-million dollar firm or just getting your operation off the ground, Nick’s insights will help you build a business that's both profitable and sustainable.Links & Resources:Learn more about Nick’s work: https://www.redesigned.businessListen to The Business Owner’s Journey Podcast:Connect with Nick on LinkedIn:Ready to design a business that runs without you?Register for the Operator to Owner live class—happening this week! You’ll walk away with the clarity and next steps you need to go from stuck in the weeds to finally scaling with freedom. Sign up now » https://webclass.blueprintos.comThanks to our sponsors...BlueprintOS equips business owners to design and install an operating system that runs like clockwork. Through BlueprintOS, you will grow and develop your leadership, clarify your culture and business game plan, align your operations with your KPIs, develop a team of A-Players, and execute your playbooks. Register to join us at an upcoming WebClass when you visit www.blueprintos.com!Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch.Club Capital is the ultimate partner for financial management and marketing services, designed specifically for insurance agencies, fitness franchises, and youth soccer organizations. As the nation's largest accounting and financial advisory firm for insurance agencies, Club Capital proudly serves over 1,000 agency...