Breaking Through the Messy Middle and Building a Business That Thrives After Year 1 with Brent Garrett

In this episode of The Founder's Growth Show, host John Hill, AKA Small Mountain, sits down with Brent Garrett, the founder of Sirius Plumbing and Air Conditioning and a veteran business consultant known as The Skilled Trades Coach. Brent shares his profound journey from working at the end of a shovel to building, scaling, and successfully selling a multimillion-dollar residential services enterprise. The conversation focuses heavily on navigating the "messy middle"—that precarious growth phase where founders hit a sudden ceiling of complexity and experience unsustainable operational friction. Brent breaks down why working harder isn't a viable long-term solution, how to effectively shift from tactical execution to strategic delegation, and the psychology required to step back into your true zone of genius. He also unpacks his two non-negotiable business commandments that every leader must protect to maintain cultural alignment and financial resilience. Plus, he shares what future founders need on Day 1 to ensure they survive their first year and beyond. Connect with Brent: Website: The Skilled Trades Coach LinkedIn: Brent Garrett   Connect with John: LinkedIn: John Hill Website: Adapted Growth Newsletter: https://podcast.adaptedgrowth.com/podcast Book: Selling From Scratch Free Workshops: Revenue Evolution Workshops