Navigating the Grind and Growth of SMB through Peer Groups - The Intentional Owner #27

Kaustubh Deo and Sam Rosati open this episode of The Intentional Owner with an unplanned but timely conversation about recent wins, a standout commercial project, and the value of having the right people around you. They walk through how strong project management can outperform low bids in commercial work, why certain clients prioritize quality, and how this job challenged their assumptions about pricing and margins. From there, they move into discussions around travel, golf, and time away from the day-to-day, using those experiences to reflect on leadership, focus, and the pressures of ownership. Throughout the episode, they return to a central theme: the need for peer support, shared pattern recognition, and intentional structures that help owners navigate both the grind and the growth phases of building a business. They discuss: • Why certain commercial jobs reward operational excellence rather than low bids • How Kaustubh and Sam think about margin, project management, and client quality • The emotional and strategic value of peer groups for owners • Balancing ambition with rest, time management, and personal priorities • Ideas for building team culture, industry communities, and better training systems MORE: Sam is hosting a 6-part Wednesday Winter Webinar Series for searchers focused on moving deals forward: • Financial modeling • Investor equity • Deal flow • LOIs • Debt raise • M&A strategy Starts Dec. 10 at 12 PM EST Link to Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_C9KdZyJmRmCb-Xtzxt-Ixg#/registration Support our Sponsors: The Kalmar Group is a recruitment firm who partners with small business owners around the nation to find Manager to VP level hires in sales, marketing, operations, and finance across multiple niche industries. Website: https://www.thekalmargroup.com Twitter: https://x.com/thesmbrecruiter LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylanscroggins/ Aspen HR Please contact our valued sponsor Aspen HR (www.aspenhr.com, [email protected]) for a quote on PEO services and a complimentary HR due diligence assessment Links: Kaustubh on Substack - https://bigdealsmallbusiness.substack.com/p/read-me-first Sam on X - https://x.com/Sam_Rosati Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:12) - Navigating commercial jobs and project management (00:05:38) - A week on the road: Golf trips and networking (00:11:47) - Insights from small business owners (00:22:49) - The value of peer groups and business coaching (00:25:51) - Setting quarterly goals with peer groups (00:26:36) - Peer groups vs. business coaches (00:28:27) - Starting a niche peer group for tree care owners (00:30:03) - The benefits of group purchasing organizations (gpos) (00:32:21) - Innovative team building activities (00:38:24) - Challenges in standardizing tree care pricing (00:42:58) - Using technology to improve operations (00:46:24) - Planning and organizing peer groups (00:49:58) - Seasonal trends in blue-collar trades (00:52:39) - Upcoming events and travel plans