What kind of leader walks away from a thriving business to start at the bottom again—and does it more than once?

In this episode of Consulting from the Couch, host Steve Goodson sits down with Thomas "Tog" Goss—a leader whose career defies every conventional rule about success.

Law enforcement officer. Firefighter. Paramedic. Successful entrepreneur running a multimillion-dollar lawn care business. And then, at 43 years old, a nursing student starting completely over.

Today, Tog is the Chief Operating Officer of Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin, a 140-bed rural hospital in Milledgeville, Georgia, serving approximately 150,000 people as part of Advocate Health—the third-largest nonprofit health system in the United States.

But the path to get there is what makes this conversation extraordinary.

In this episode, we explore:

• The fatal crash that sparked Tog's calling to emergency service;
• Early grit in construction and his first business lessons;
• The shift from firefighting and paramedicine to entrepreneurship;
• Building a multimillion-dollar lawn care company on one principle: reliability;
• Why he walked away from business success to enroll in nursing school at 43;
• The humility of returning to a Level One trauma center as a CNA to earn respect;
• The 110% mindset and how "positive thoughts produce positive outcomes";
• Mentors who opened doors, refused to let him settle, and believed in him before he was ready;
• Leading the cardiovascular ICU during COVID with the philosophy "no one goes alone";
• Servant leadership habits that build culture—picking up trash, dust-mopping hallways at 4 a.m., being visible;
• Rural healthcare innovation: life jacket loaner stations, tele-linked EMS, solar energy offsetting 40% of hospital power;
• Community partnerships that save lives and fund critical equipment;
• Investing in staff education and advancing careers;
• Faith, family, and the courage to choose meaning over comfort; and
• What he wants his legacy to be—and his advice for anyone stuck at a crossroads.

Key Themes:
This conversation is about reinvention, courage, servant leadership, and the unwavering belief that great healthcare should reach every person—no matter where they live. It's about choosing meaning over money, humility over ego, and service over status.

Tog didn't become a great leader despite starting over multiple times. He became a great leader because of it. Because he knows what it feels like to be the rookie in the room. Because he's worked every level of the organization he now leads. Because he chose, more than once, to trade comfort for meaning.

Who This Episode Is For:

• Anyone standing at a career crossroads wondering if it's too late to change
• Leaders who want to understand what servant leadership actually looks like in practice
• Healthcare professionals considering leadership roles
• Paramedics and first responders exploring transitions into nursing or healthcare administration
• Entrepreneurs questioning whether success equals meaning
• Anyone who's been told they're too old, too late, or too far down one path to start over

Connect with Tog Goss:
Website: https://toggoss.com

About Consulting from the Couch:
This podcast is about leaders—what makes them tick, what drives them, and the challenges they face. Hosted by Steve Goodson, who spent 35 years in the electric utility industry working with some of the most genuine, humble, and exceptional leaders. Each episode delivers nuggets, tidbits, and takeaways for the emerging leaders of tomorrow.

About BLC Consulting, LLC:
This podcast is brought to you by BLC Consulting, LLC (Brown