Podcast
Good Business with Clay Vaughan
Hosted by Clay Vaughan · EN
Good Business with Clay Vaughan is a podcast about building companies that actually matter. Not just ones that grow, but ones that last. Ones that honor God, care for people, and create real value in the world.
Every week, Clay sits down with entrepreneurs, executives, and leaders who are walking that road in their own way. The conversations aren’t fluffy or surface-level. They get into the hard stuff—how to lead through chaos, how to build culture when it’s easier to cut corners, and how to keep purpose front and center when profit is shouting in your ear.
It’s a show about the kind of business most people want to run but few actually figure out. You’ll hear wins and mistakes, stories and strategies, but more importantly—you’ll hear what it looks like to run a business that’s both good at what it does and good for the people it touches.
If you want to grow, lead well, and make an impact that outlives you, this is your place.
32episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Stop Chasing Bad Leads: How Syft AI Finds the Deals You Never See
Feb 2401:08:15Tap to summarizeMost sales teams are still prospecting like it is 2013.In this episode of Good Business, Clay and Luke sit down with Zach Wright and Lee Rodgers of Syft AI to talk about how AI is changing outbound sales, why territories exist, and what it looks like to sell with real intentionality.They break down how Syft finds deals already in motion by tracking real-world signals, matching them to the problems a product solves, and surfacing opportunities your team would never see otherwise. The conversation goes beyond tools and gets into the human side of selling, the danger of scaling low-quality outreach, and why the future belongs to teams who lead with both speed and integrity.In this episode, we cover:- How AI can reduce wasted prospecting time- Why most sales AI tools still miss the real problem- What signals reveal active buying intent- How to think about value alignment and intentional outreach- Why territories may become obsolete- The downside of “disingenuous personalization.”- Underrated sales tactics that still work right nowSubscribe for more episodes of Good Business.Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this with someone leading a sales team.#GoodBusiness #Sales #B2BSales #Prospecting #SalesLeadership #AI #SalesTech #OutboundSales #RevenueOperations #GoToMarket #SaaS #EntrepreneurshipSupport the showThis show is sponsored by Rocketfuel, a CRM that has helped thousands of small business owners organize and automate their communications so that nothing slips through the cracks and their top-line capacity can grow. Try it risk-free today at https://www.rocketfuel.software!
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What Servant Leadership Really Costs (and Why It Works)
Feb 1701:08:15Tap to summarizeMost leaders either run fast or care deeply, but very few can do both.In this episode of Good Business, Clay and Luke sit down with Dr. Terry Cokenour, professor at Houston Christian University and a longtime friend of Clay’s, for a conversation about servant leadership, burnout, and the legacy we leave behind.Terry shares stories from managing teams in the early days of the virtual reality industry, serving on the mission field in Hungary, and leading through seasons of stress, anxiety, and a colon cancer diagnosis. This episode is not just about leadership theory. It is about presence, resilience, and leading in a way that makes the people around you better.In this episode, we cover:- Why servant leadership matters and what it actually looks like- How toxic relationships create unhealthy organizations- A leadership decision that transformed a broken workplace culture- How to spot burnout before it becomes a crisis- Why stress often stays hidden until it blows up- The role of community, therapy, and “soul friends” in endurance- How hardship shapes legacy and changes what leaders prioritize- The one sentence Terry believes his kids would use to describe his leadershipSubscribe for more episodes of Good Business.Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this with someone who needs it.#GoodBusiness #Leadership #ServantLeadership #Burnout #WorkplaceCulture #ConflictResolution #ChristianLeadership #Resilience #MentalHealth #TeamBuilding #Management #Legacy #FaithAndWorkSupport the showThis show is sponsored by Rocketfuel, a CRM that has helped thousands of small business owners organize and automate their communications so that nothing slips through the cracks and their top-line capacity can grow. Try it risk-free today at https://www.rocketfuel.software!
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You Can’t Replace Relationships with AI: Sales and Marketing Alignment
Feb 1000:58:10Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Good Business, Clay Vaughan and Luke Frazier sit down with David Lillard to talk about marketing in the age of AI and what still wins in the real world.AI can generate websites, copy, and content fast. But businesses still struggle with the hardest part: deciding what to do, why it matters, and how to tie marketing to revenue without lying to themselves.David explains why you cannot replace relationships with technology, how marketing should create lift so leaders can manage more relationships, and why frameworks and decision-making matter more than deliverables. This conversation covers sales and marketing alignment, clarity that compounds, finding leaks in your funnel, and why email remains one of the most underrated growth channels in B2B.#GoodBusiness #Marketing #Sales #AI #B2BMarketing #RevenueGrowth #Leadership #SalesEnablement #EmailMarketing #StrategySupport the showThis show is sponsored by Rocketfuel, a CRM that has helped thousands of small business owners organize and automate their communications so that nothing slips through the cracks and their top-line capacity can grow. Try it risk-free today at https://www.rocketfuel.software!
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Why Trust Beats the Lowest Bid in Construction and Business with Kirk Wright
Feb 300:52:59Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Good Business, Clay Vaughan and Luke Frazier sit down with Kirk Wright, CEO of Buildian Construction Services, to talk about what actually wins in construction and business.Kirk explains why being the lowest bidder is rarely the best strategy, how disciplined processes protect trust, and what it takes to scale across multiple states without losing integrity. This conversation covers pre-construction safeguards, subcontractor accountability, hospitality as a business advantage, and why boring consistency works.If you are a founder, operator, or leader who wants to build a reputation that drives referrals, this episode is for you.#GoodBusiness #Construction #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #Reputation #Trust #Operations#ProjectManagement #FaithAndWorkSupport the showThis show is sponsored by Rocketfuel, a CRM that has helped thousands of small business owners organize and automate their communications so that nothing slips through the cracks and their top-line capacity can grow. Try it risk-free today at https://www.rocketfuel.software!
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What It Takes to Build a Team Gen Z Won’t Quit
Jan 2700:52:46Tap to summarizeWhat if you could build a team so strong that people never wanted to leave.In this episode of Good Business, Clay and Luke sit down with Jacob Karnes, a former Chick-fil-A corporate trainer, leadership coach, and author of Master Your First Job, to talk about what it really takes to build a culture that attracts and retains great people, especially Gen Z.They unpack why apathy is rising, why human connection is becoming a competitive advantage, and how to design a purpose-driven workplace people actually want to stay in. Jacob shares practical frameworks leaders can use right away, including how to hire for values, coach with clarity, and create a feedback culture that builds people instead of burning them out.In this episode, we cover:- Why Gen Z is leaving jobs so quickly- How purpose and community fight apathy- What Chick-fil-A gets right about culture and hiring- What personal brand really means for young workers- The WIN feedback method using What, Illustrate, and Navigate- Why praise matters more than most leaders thinkSubscribe for more episodes of Good Business.Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this with someone who needs it.#GoodBusiness #Leadership #CompanyCulture #GenZ #EmployeeRetention #Management #TeamBuilding #Feedback #PersonalBrand #ChickfilA #BusinessCoaching #WorkplaceCulture #OperationsSupport the showThis show is sponsored by Rocketfuel, a CRM that has helped thousands of small business owners organize and automate their communications so that nothing slips through the cracks and their top-line capacity can grow. Try it risk-free today at https://www.rocketfuel.software!
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What It Really Takes to Buy and Run a Business
Jan 2001:01:37Tap to summarizeMost people dream about owning a business. Mike Fransen bought one, and it changed everything.In this episode of Good Business, Clay and Luke sit down with Mike to talk about what it looks like to acquire a boomer-owned, blue-collar business and survive the first two years. They cover the pressure of personally guaranteeing a loan, managing partnership tension, navigating a seller transition, and learning how to lead a new team while stabilizing cash flow.In this episode, we cover:What it feels like the day you sign the papersWhy tension is not the problem, but mismanaging it isHow to evaluate a business beyond the numbersWhat first-time buyers underestimate about seller transitionsWhy “boring” businesses can be the smartest moveWhat stability actually looks like in year one and year twoIf you are thinking about buying a business, stepping out of corporate, or building a partnership that lasts, this one is for you.Subscribe for more episodes of Good Business.Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and share this with someone who needs it.#GoodBusiness #Entrepreneurship #BusinessAcquisition #SmallBusiness #Leadership #BusinessPartnership #BlueCollarBusiness #SBA #EOS #Operations #MergersAndAcquisitions #FounderJourneySupport the showThis show is sponsored by Rocketfuel, a CRM that has helped thousands of small business owners organize and automate their communications so that nothing slips through the cracks and their top-line capacity can grow. Try it risk-free today at https://www.rocketfuel.software!
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10X Growth Without Losing Your Soul: Faith, Leadership, and Culture at AAA Paving
Jan 1301:04:11Tap to summarizeMost blue-collar businesses grow slowly. AAA Paving grew 10X in just three years without burning out crews or compromising culture.In this episode of Good Business, Clay and Luke sit down with Rheese Stanley, President of AAA Paving, to talk about servant leadership, faith in business, disciplined systems, and what it really takes to scale while putting people first.From standing by employees through unjust arrests to doubling down during COVID, Rheese shares real stories of courage, humility, and leadership that honors God.If you’re a business owner, leader, or entrepreneur trying to grow without losing your heart, this episode is for you.Schedule a marketing discovery call here:https://www.goodagency.com/schedule-callSubscribe to Good Business on:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkcg0fdy9Ku0VxRddLh9sF1-Syc1o0HWlSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0fka1EglKh0dCqc8ACF77E?si=e11317b8cd1b4b70&nd=1&dlsi=e3601189b0b94acf Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-business-with-clay-vaughan/id1610259222#leadership #businessoperations #entrepreneurship #hustleculture #burnoutprevention #EOS #founderlifeSupport the showThis show is sponsored by Rocketfuel, a CRM that has helped thousands of small business owners organize and automate their communications so that nothing slips through the cracks and their top-line capacity can grow. Try it risk-free today at https://www.rocketfuel.software!
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Where Contractors Really Lose Money: Execution, Systems, and Scalable Margin with Josiah Peterson
Jan 600:54:11Tap to summarizeMost contractors don’t lose money on sales. They lose it on execution.In this episode of Good Business, Clay and Luke sit down with Josiah Peterson, founder of KBHC Consulting, to talk about what really protects profit in contracting and service businesses. From job costing and overhead recovery to the 3–5 crew breaking point, seasonality planning, and change orders that drain margins, Josiah shares what he learned scaling and exiting his own business and what he now teaches contractors who want to grow.We also talk about software, CRMs, routing and scheduling, and how AI and automation will transform trades faster than most owners expect.If you are a contractor, operator, or service business owner trying to scale without losing control of your margins, this is for you.Connect with Josiah: Reach out on LinkedIn (as mentioned in the episode).If this helped you: Like, subscribe, and leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Chapters00:00 Contractors lose money on execution, not sales01:15 Why margins disappear (unseen costs, sloppy schedules)05:24 Mentorship and steady leadership11:07 Purpose, provision, and pushing through naysayers13:18 The 3–5 crew ceiling and team runway16:04 Seasonality planning and consistent pipeline24:23 Small jobs, better margin, and selling to defined need31:43 Overhead recovery and true cost of business36:02 Software, CRM, AI, and integration40:21 Will robots take over trades?45:21 Change orders and emotional capital49:21 Monetizing existing customers and plugging leaks55:36 The question every leader should askSubscribe for more: Good Business exists to help leaders build companies that impact the world for good.#GoodBusinessPodcast #Contractors #Leadership #Operations #Pricing #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #ServiceBusiness #Construction #TradesSupport the showThis show is sponsored by Rocketfuel, a CRM that has helped thousands of small business owners organize and automate their communications so that nothing slips through the cracks and their top-line capacity can grow. Try it risk-free today at https://www.rocketfuel.software!
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Hustle Without Burnout: How Leaders Build Discipline, Alignment, and Real Velocity
Dec 1600:56:20Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Good Business, Clay Vaughan and Luke Frazier sit down with Abby Ramin, Director of Operations at Good Agency, for a candid conversation about hustle, burnout, and what it really takes to execute vision at scale.Abby shares what she learned stepping into an integrator role during rapid growth, why hustle is about discipline and rhythm, not chaos, and how alignment actually creates speed. They discuss leadership friction, EOS rhythms, time tracking, forecasting, and the systems that help teams grow without losing trust, clarity, or culture.If you’re a founder, operator, or leader trying to scale without burning out your team, this episode will challenge how you think about hustle, execution, and leadership.Schedule a marketing discovery call here:https://www.goodagency.com/schedule-callSubscribe to Good Business on:YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkcg0fdy9Ku0VxRddLh9sF1-Syc1o0HWlSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0fka1EglKh0dCqc8ACF77E?si=e11317b8cd1b4b70&nd=1&dlsi=e3601189b0b94acf Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-business-with-clay-vaughan/id1610259222#leadership #businessoperations #entrepreneurship #hustleculture #burnoutprevention #EOS #founderlifeSupport the showThis show is sponsored by Rocketfuel, a CRM that has helped thousands of small business owners organize and automate their communications so that nothing slips through the cracks and their top-line capacity can grow. Try it risk-free today at https://www.rocketfuel.software!
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From Hustle Culture to Healthy Sales: Trust-Based Prospecting with Brad Pearse
Dec 901:07:13Tap to summarizeOn this episode of Good Business, Clay Vaughan and Luke Frazier speak with Brad Pearse, Sales Development Leader and founder of Simplified Sales. Brad shares how growing up in a $ 700 million family business shaped his approach to culture, customer experience, and leadership, and why so much of today’s hustle-obsessed entrepreneurial mindset is deeply unhealthy.They explore how purpose, faith, and stewardship transform the way leaders present themselves; what entrepreneurs often misunderstand about success; and why serving others is the true foundation of meaningful work. Brad also breaks down practical strategies for building healthy sales teams, aligning sales and marketing into a unified revenue engine, and using LinkedIn Sales Navigator for trust-based prospecting rather than spam.Whether you lead a sales team or are trying to grow your business without losing your values, this conversation will challenge how you think about work, culture, and what it means to build something that lasts.To connect with Brad, find him on LinkedIn.Schedule a marketing discovery call here:https://www.goodagency.com/schedule-callSubscribe to Good Business on:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkcg0fdy9Ku0VxRddLh9sF1-Syc1o0HWlSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0fka1EglKh0dCqc8ACF77E?si=e11317b8cd1b4b70Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-business-with-clay-vaughan/id1610259222#salesleadership #entrepreneurmindset #revenuegrowth #trustbasedselling #salesnavigator #goodbusinesspodcastSupport the showThis show is sponsored by Rocketfuel, a CRM that has helped thousands of small business owners organize and automate their communications so that nothing slips through the cracks and their top-line capacity can grow. Try it risk-free today at https://www.rocketfuel.software!
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