Rich Ashton shares his 55-year entrepreneurial journey from real estate to running a successful service company, revealing how he transformed struggling employees into exceptional leaders through an accidental leadership book that began as internal training blogs. His approach to developing leaders by breaking through their perceived limitations has created an exceptional company culture with remarkable employee retention in an industry known for high turnover.

• Turning internal training blogs into a published leadership book for small businesses
• Breaking through leadership "ceilings" that limit employee growth and potential
• Creating accountability and proactive management within teams
• Learning from mentors throughout your business journey
• Running all business decisions through your company's "why" filter
• Addressing negative employees promptly before they impact team culture
• Selectively adopting technology while maintaining core company values
• Continuous reevaluation and commitment to excellence as keys to longevity

Find Rich's book online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble or visit growingyourown.net . You can contact Rich directly at rich@growingyourown.net or on Linkedin @RichAshton

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What if the key to unlocking your business potential isn't found in the latest software or marketing strategy, but in something far more fundamental—understanding how you and your team are wired to communicate? Dan Dalton, owner of P3:14 Consulting, brings three decades of human resources expertise to this enlightening conversation about the transformative power of personality profiling.

Drawing from his experience across banking, healthcare, retail, and manufacturing, Dan reveals how personality assessment tools like DISC and Insights Discovery can revolutionize workplace dynamics. "Self-awareness is the root of self-improvement," he explains, describing how understanding communication preferences helps teams connect more effectively. From the fiery red "be brief, be bright, be gone" personalities preferences to the earth green "show me that you care" energy types, these insights create a framework for meaningful connection.

Particularly valuable for small to medium-sized businesses, personality profiling helps leaders place the right people in the right roles. By analyzing job requirements against personality strengths, companies can build teams where everyone operates in their zone of genius rather than constantly fighting against their natural tendencies. This alignment doesn't just create happier employees—it directly impacts the bottom line through improved productivity and reduced miscommunication and a healthier culture.

Dan also works with young adults ages 15-22, helping them understand their personality types before making critical career decisions. Since personality is largely established by our mid-teens, these insights can prevent costly mistakes like changing college majors or entering misaligned career paths. In our AI-driven world, this human-centered approach provides a crucial counterbalance, reminding us that understanding ourselves and others remains the foundation for both personal and professional success.

Ready to transform your team dynamics or help a young person discover their natural strengths? Connect with Dan Dalton to learn how personality profiling can create clearer communication, stronger relationships, and better business outcomes.

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Andre Jackson's journey from military service to owning a thriving security franchise offers a masterclass in scaling with intention. Drawing from his structured military background, Andre strategically positioned himself for success by working across multiple departments at Signal's corporate office before acquiring his own franchise. This comprehensive understanding of operations became the foundation for his rapid business growth.

What truly distinguishes Andre's approach is his commitment to genuine relationship-building. He implements a structured client onboarding process while maintaining frequent, informal touchpoints that focus not on services but on understanding clients' overall business health. "A lot of the times it's not service-related," Andre explains, "it's just to see how things are going on their side." This partnership mindset has fueled growth through steady referrals while maintaining exceptional service quality.

Andre's team-building philosophy mirrors this intentional approach. Having grown from a small operation to sixteen employees, he emphasizes serving others and maintaining integrity as core values. "When you're trying to intentionally help someone, it removes a lot of the selfish approaches," he shares. This leadership style creates a culture where team members feel valued and understand their contribution to the larger mission of providing peace of mind to communities.

For entrepreneurs struggling with scaling challenges, Andre offers refreshingly practical advice: "Take chances and don't try to do things perfect... don't be afraid to start a rough draft." He advocates starting with one client, mastering that relationship, and then duplicating the process—ensuring quality never suffers during growth. With future plans focused on deepening community involvement through local partnerships, Signal Security under Andre's leadership demonstrates how intentional scaling creates businesses that thrive financially while making meaningful community impact.

Ready to learn more about intentional business scaling? Subscribe to our podcast for more conversations with purpose-driven entrepreneurs who are changing their industries through authentic leadership and strategic growth.

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The grant funding landscape is undergoing a seismic shift that threatens the financial stability of businesses, nonprofits, and educational institutions nationwide. In this eye-opening conversation, Doria, founder of The Sailor Justice Project, reveals how recent legislative changes are reshaping access to critical funding opportunities.

Doria's journey from anime-loving college administrator to sought-after grant writing expert began during the pandemic when a friend's request for contract work unexpectedly blossomed into a thriving business. Drawing inspiration from K-pop group BTS's message of self-empowerment, she found the courage to launch The Sailor Justice Project, which now helps organizations secure vital funding in an increasingly challenging environment.

The conversation takes an urgent turn as Doria explains how a January executive order attempted to freeze federal grants with just hours' notice, creating a climate of fear that persists despite a judicial injunction. With federal grant applications at record lows and the Department of Education facing potential dismantling, organizations are scrambling to understand where taxpayer dollars allocated for grants are being redirected. Meanwhile, foundation grants face unprecedented competition as organizations shift away from unstable federal funding sources.

For business owners feeling overwhelmed, Doria offers practical starting points: connect with your local bank's foundation, explore resources like GrantStation and Hello Alice, and most importantly, plan ahead. The grant funding process typically takes 3-6 months from application to receiving funds, making proactive preparation essential. She emphasizes the importance of solid analytics, compelling mission statements, and professional assistance to navigate the increasingly competitive funding landscape.

Ready to secure funding for your business or nonprofit? Connect with Doria on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok at The Sailor Justice Project, or visit thesailorjusticeproject.com to learn how her expertise can help you access the funds you need to thrive despite today's funding challenges.

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Ever wondered why insurance feels so complicated? In this illuminating conversation with Cliff and Cyndi Stubbs of Rhythm Insurance Agency, we uncover how genuine education and relationship-building have created extraordinary success in an industry often plagued by confusion and mistrust.

The name "Rhythm" wasn't chosen by accident. As Cliff explains, it emerged from his background as a drummer, but evolved to represent the changing rhythms of life that necessitate different insurance needs. This philosophy has guided their approach for over 20 years, leading to an astounding 96% client retention rate for Medicare customers and a three-million-dollar book of premium built entirely through referrals.

What makes their story particularly compelling is their commitment to education before sales. "Most people spend more time researching a new iPhone than their health insurance," Cliff points out. This knowledge gap leaves many vulnerable when they actually need their coverage. The Stubbs couple addresses this by ensuring clients understand exactly what they're purchasing, often providing free advice even when there's no immediate sale opportunity.

Their faith-based approach prioritizes doing right by people over maximizing short-term profits. "If you do the right thing, the money comes," Cliff shares, reflecting on countless situations where they've helped people without compensation, only to see those good deeds transform into referrals later.

For those considering entering the insurance industry, Cyndi offers invaluable advice about finding mentorship and setting realistic expectations. Her transition into the business provides a blueprint for success through proper guidance and community support.

Whether you're a business owner looking to build sustainable growth through trust, someone confused about insurance options, or an entrepreneur seeking a client-first business model, this conversation offers clear, actionable insights that challenge industry norms while delivering remarkable results.

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Dr. Noe Jamilio shares his journey from dental assistant at age 18 to owning a successful cosmetic dentistry practice in Midlothian with cutting-edge technology and a patient-centered approach. His practice recently crossed the million-dollar revenue milestone by focusing on advanced procedures, continuing education, and creating meaningful relationships with patients.

• Started career as a dental assistant at 18 before becoming a dentist
• Mentors recognized his potential early and encouraged him to pursue dentistry
• Learned strong work ethic from his father, a commercial fisherman who owned boats
• Focuses on smile transformations that change lives beyond just appearances
• Invests in advanced technology including 3D printers, scanners, and simulation software
• Completes 100-150 hours of continuing education annually (state requires only 25)
• Creates personal relationships with patients, knowing each of their stories
• Works alongside his wife who manages the business operations
• Son is now pursuing dentistry to eventually join the family practice
• Participates in mastermind groups for continued growth and development

Reach out to Dr. Jamilio for a complimentary consultation for cosmetic dentistry or implant surgery through DFW Smile Design website, Instagram (@DrNoeJamilio), or Facebook (Aesthetic and Implant Dentistry).

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You’ve built the foundation, launched your brand, and started nurturing leads — now it’s time to scale. But growth without systems? That’s chaos.

In this final episode of the ATMA Podcast & Live Webinar Series, we’re diving deep into the Scale phase. Discover how automation, AI, and delegation can free up your time, increase efficiency, and take your business to the next level — without burning out.

Join Storie and Bryan Acosta, CEO of Advent Trinity Marketing Agency, as they walk you through the tools, strategies, and timing to scale your business smart and sustainably.
Inside this episode:

• The exact automations we use to save 40+ hours per month
• How AI is transforming modern marketing — and how you can use it right now
• How to know when it’s time to scale (and when to optimize first)
• Real examples of businesses that scaled profitably and predictably

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Growth isn’t just about getting more leads — it’s about building lasting relationships with the ones you already have.
In Episode 4 of the ATMA Podcast & Live Webinar Series, we’re talking about the Grow phase — where follow-up meets fortune. If you’ve been collecting leads but struggling to convert them, this episode is for you.
Join Storie as she interviews Bryan Acosta, CEO of Advent Trinity Marketing Agency, to uncover how the best brands use smart automation and human-centered messaging to grow their customer base from the inside out.
What you’ll get:

• The email/SMS formula that builds trust and drives action
• How to use content marketing to stay top of mind with your audience
• The CRM workflows we use to increase retention and generate upsells
• Real-world examples of nurture campaigns that work

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