Podcast Summary: The Code To Winning – Episode 068

Title: How to Dominate Business in 2026: What No One’s Telling You
Host: Kagiso Dikane
Guest: Jason Von Payne (Owner, State 48 Roofing; Founder, Scale Mastermind; Host, Sexy Business Status Podcast)
Date: October 27, 2025

Overview

In this engaging episode, Kagiso Dikane sits down with Jason Von Payne to unpack the real-world strategies and principles behind dominating in business—particularly in the blue-collar sector—and how to build both a winning company and a winning life going into 2026. The conversation moves past polished narratives to reveal authentic, actionable steps and raw moments of truth, especially for entrepreneurs and business leaders with working-class roots.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jason’s Roots: Blue Collar Foundation & Early Hustle

• Background: Jason was raised in Gilbert, Arizona, in a classic middle-class family, the eldest of five, son of a blue-collar father. (03:42)
• Early Work Ethic: From age 12, Jason hustled—selling snacks to construction crews, running a landscaping business, lifeguarding, and more—all before entering roofing.
• Quote: “Screens and electronics... wasn’t a thing. Late 90s, early thousands… If you found me, I’d have a shovel in my hand, looking for something to do outside.” (05:00, Jason)

2. The Leap: From Labor to Entrepreneurship

• Rising Through Roofing: Started in management (not physically installing roofs), valuably positioning himself between blue-collar execution and business management. (16:04)
• Climbing and Breaking Away: Progressed from production to sales, then to general management for his uncle’s roofing company. Sought ownership, but upon being refused equity, left to launch State 48 Roofing. (10:31–13:38)
• Quote: “I knew the roofing side... But I didn’t know the business side. Taxes and audits and insurances and all that stuff—that’s where I needed to learn.” (10:31, Jason)

3. The Power of Personal Branding & Social Media

• Early Social Activity: Started daily social media posts about roofing as early as 2010 (originally on Facebook, later Instagram as ‘Jason the roofer’).
• Growth via Content: His authenticity online helped him bootstrap his business without relying on leads from others.
• Quote: “I’ve been posting once a day... every single day on social media since January of 2010.” (12:44, Jason)

4. Key Lessons in Business & Leadership

• Recruitment & Retention:

  • “Train your people so well they can leave. Treat them so well they don’t want to.” (19:00, Jason, citing an external quote)
  • Genuine care for employees—not just as workers but as family—keeps top talent loyal.

• Building Effective Teams:

  • Delegate and empower: “Hire and delegate. Hire and delegate. The only thing you can’t outsource is push-ups.” (17:59–18:11, Jason)
  • Leadership is modeled, not just taught: “Show people how to lead… teach them… and then watch them lead. But you have to be the example first, plain and simple.” (27:52–29:41, Jason)

• Leadership: Nature or Nurture?

  • Both agree that leadership is not innate; it’s developed.
  • “You’re not born a leader. Absolutely not. The only thing you’re born with is a heartbeat and the law of gravity.” (01:12 & 24:40, Jason)
  • Leadership is displayed by living the values and setting the example, both at work and at home.

5. The Value of Real Connection (Not Virtual)

• In-Person Networking:

  • Jason’s mastermind is intentionally face-to-face—the power of real, in-the-room connection is unmatched by virtual communities.
  • “You never have greater impact face to face.” (24:25–24:32, Jason)
  • COVID’s impact: Loss of connection was devastating to culture and business.

• On Company Culture:

  • Treat workers like family, but be intentional about what that means—be genuine, not just performative. (19:00–20:12)

6. Continuing Education: Training and Delegation

• Remove Micromanagement:

  • Most micromanagement issues stem from not properly training employees.
  • “Done is better than perfect... If you train them and you train them correctly and hold them accountable and you teach and then show and then watch, that is how the micromanaging part goes away.” (45:21–47:19, Jason)

• 80/20 Rule of Delegation:

  • You can train someone to do 80% as well as you do; that other 20% is your unique value. (47:18)

7. Systems for Scaling Up

• The $2,500 Rule:

  • Identify all tasks you perform; delegate the $20/hr work to focus on $500/hr and higher-value activities—critical to building not just a job, but a business. (49:42–51:47, Jason)

• Sales & Marketing:

  • The two pillars not to delegate away completely: “Never let somebody in your business out promote you.” (53:10, Jason)

8. Personal Life & Relationships As the Ultimate Foundation

• Spousal Support:

  • Choosing a spouse is the most important decision.
  • “The one thing you get to choose in life... is the person you want to spend the rest of your life with.” (43:20, Jason)
  • Referenced 300’s queen: “She knew the mission, knew the goal, knew what he was there to do... That is the level of selflessness... and my wife is that person.” (42:18–43:19, Jason)

• Character and Truth:

  • True leadership is about living aligned with your standards.
  • “If you aren’t doing the this and the that, you’re a hypocrite. And what person wants to follow a hypocrite?” (27:52, Jason)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You’re not born leaders. Absolutely not. The only thing you’re born with is a heartbeat and a law of gravity.” (01:12 & 24:40, Jason)
• “Train your people so well they can leave. Treat them so well they don’t want to.” (19:00, Jason)
• “You cannot outsource push-ups.” (18:11, Jason)
• “You never have greater impact face to face.” (24:32, Jason)
• On authenticity:
  “If we aren’t doing the this and we aren’t doing the that, we’re hypocrites.” (27:52, Jason)
• On delegation:
  “You can train anyone to do 80% of your job… That 20% is the magical unicorn dust.” (47:18, Jason)
• “The definition of winning... is to be able to do what you want, where you want, when you want, with the people you want, with no restrictions.” (53:31, Jason)

Timestamps: Key Segments

• [00:00–06:44] Jason’s early life, blue-collar roots, early work ethic
• [07:38–10:14] Teenage businesses and entry into roofing
• [10:31–13:38] Moving from employee to business ownership, first lessons in entrepreneurship
• [15:31–16:04] The problem of financial illiteracy in blue collar trades
• [17:58–20:12] Leadership is learned; strategies for recruiting & retaining staff
• [21:01–24:32] The value of real-life networking and face-to-face connection
• [24:40–29:41] Leadership is developed, not inborn; leading by example
• [33:09–37:06] The reason for starting the Scale Mastermind; need for better leadership among younger generations
• [38:28–43:19] Lessons from epic films; leading from the front; importance of choosing the right spouse
• [45:21–47:19] How to stop micromanaging: train and trust your team
• [49:42–51:47] The “$2,500 Rule” for entrepreneurs
• [53:31–55:53] Jason’s definition of winning

Conclusion

This raw and unscripted conversation delivers a blueprint to “dominating business in 2026” that goes far beyond tactics: it’s about character, relentless training, leading by example, and building true connection. Jason Von Payne reinforces the idea that leadership—at work and at home—is taught, not born, and offers pragmatic frameworks to escape the trap of being overworked or stuck in blue-collar routines. For those looking to build an empire (and a legacy) on strong relationships, authentic leadership, and scalable systems, this episode is packed with battle-tested insights.

Connect with Jason Von Payne

• Instagram: @jasointheroofer (56:04)

“The Code to Winning: Insights you need today to seize the world tomorrow.”