Grow With Purpose

Every owner wants growth. Few are ready for the version that shows up uninvited and never lets up. In this episode, Joey Brannon and Tommy Rohrlack talk through what happens when sustained growth starts to break the owner: the apathy that signals burnout, the financial squeeze that hides behind rising revenue, and the hard conversations owners avoid until the weight lands entirely on their own shoulders. They walk through the three identities every owner moves through and the one that actually survives growth, and they close with a single practice you can start this week.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:• Why the most dangerous growth is the kind you didn't plan for• The two telltale signs of burnout: apathy in decisions and no time away from the business• Why avoiding a hard conversation about a key person is what breaks the owner• The three owner identities and why leading people, not doing the work, is what scales DOWNLOAD THE LEADERSHIP GUIDE:‍ ‍Episode 192: When Growth Breaks the OwnerHELP US IMPROVE THE SHOW: Take our 30-second SurveyHave a question for the show? Email us at [email protected] WITH AXIOM• Website• LinkedIn• Instagram• Facebook• YouTubeABOUT AXIOM STRATEGIC: Axiom Strategic helps business owners and leaders build mission-driven businesses by aligning culture, leadership, operations, sales, and financials.

Joey Brannon sits down with Axiom advisor Cameron Earhart, CEPA, to break down a recent client sale to a private equity firm. Cameron worked with the owner through the process, and the two talk candidly about why the buyer mattered more than the number, what changes the day after closing, and how the right firm turns a team loose to grow. It is an honest look at how these deals work from the inside and how to land in the small group of owners who are genuinely glad they sold.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:• Why your future CEO is the relationship that decides everything• How to read a buyer before you sign the LOI• What changes the day after you sell• The three boxes to check before your first PE meetingDOWNLOAD THE LEADERSHIP GUIDE:‍ ‍Episode 191: Not All PE Is The DevilHELP US IMPROVE THE SHOW: Take our 30-second SurveyHave a question for the show? Email us at [email protected] WITH AXIOM• Website• LinkedIn• Instagram• Facebook• YouTubeABOUT AXIOM STRATEGIC: Axiom Strategic helps business owners and leaders build mission-driven businesses by aligning culture, leadership, operations, sales, and financials.

Mike LoBue had just walked a packed advisor circle event through three moves one of our clients made that changed their business. The day after, Joey pulled him into the studio to go through them again while the conversation was fresh. The three moves: leadership development, a real scorecard, and a planning and execution rhythm. Each one is the kind of move owners delay. Each one is the kind that changes what a company is capable of when it finally gets made. Mike and Joey also get into the accountability question every CEO has to answer before any of it sticks.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:• The hard conversation most owners avoid about their leadership team • How to honor long-tenured employees the right way when the seat fit has shifted• Why financial statements aren't a scorecard, and what a real one looks like• Why 52 chances a year to adjust beats 12, and what the weekly meeting takes• The accountability question every CEO has to answer before the team willDOWNLOAD THE LEADERSHIP GUIDE:‍ ‍Episode Episode 190: Three Moves That Change a CompanyHELP US IMPROVE THE SHOW: Take our 30-second SurveyHave a question for the show? Email us at [email protected] WITH AXIOM• Website• LinkedIn• Instagram• Facebook• YouTubeABOUT AXIOM STRATEGIC: Axiom Strategic helps business owners and leaders build mission-driven businesses by aligning culture, leadership, operations, sales, and financials.

“My team just won’t take ownership.” Most owners say it as a verdict on their people. Tommy Rohrlack and Cameron Earhart push back on that diagnosis. Before you decide you hired the wrong people, or that a younger generation just doesn’t care, look at the environment those people are working in. Tommy and Cameron get into what ownership means, the culture that makes it possible, the clarity that gives it somewhere to land, and the uncomfortable possibility that the owner is the bottleneck.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:• Why “act like an owner” is the wrong thing to ask for, and what to ask for instead.• The three things a culture needs before anyone takes a risk: safety, connection, and a sense of future.• How clear expectations turn into real accountability.• What it looks like when the owner is the bottleneck —  and the first move toward fixing it.DOWNLOAD THE LEADERSHIP GUIDE:‍ ‍Episode 189: Why Your Team Isn’t Taking OwnershipHELP US IMPROVE THE SHOW: Take our 30 second SurveyHave a question for the show? Email us at [email protected] WITH AXIOM• Website• LinkedIn• Instagram• Facebook• YouTubeABOUT AXIOM STRATEGIC: Axiom Strategic helps business owners and leaders build mission-driven businesses by aligning culture, leadership, operations, sales, and financials.

Every owner says they want freedom. Then the day comes when the company can run without them, and a lot of them don’t know what to do with it. Cameron Earhart and Mike LoBue dig into why stepping back feels uncomfortable instead of freeing. They cover how an owner’s identity gets tied to being needed, where the fear of losing control comes from, and why the time you’ve been chasing can feel emptier than expected if you haven’t planned for it. This one closes out the series on building a business that doesn’t depend on you.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:• Why owners who say they want freedom struggle once they get it• How an owner’s identity gets wrapped up in being needed, and what to root it in instead• Where the fear of losing control comes from, and how to overcome it• What to plan for so the freedom you get doesn’t turn into regretDOWNLOAD THE LEADERSHIP GUIDE:‍ ‍Episode 188: When the Business Needs You LessHELP US IMPROVE THE SHOW: Take our 30 second SurveyHave a question for the show? Email us at [email protected] WITH AXIOM• Website• LinkedIn• Instagram• Facebook• YouTubeABOUT AXIOM STRATEGIC: Axiom Strategic helps business owners and leaders build mission-driven businesses by aligning culture, leadership, operations, sales, and financials.

Most owners know they're stuck in the weeds. The harder question is what to do with the time once they finally step out. Joey and Tommy walk through why owners stay stuck (reactivity, identity, lack of trust, fear of losing clients), what it's costing the business, and the four things owners should be spending their time on once they reclaim their calendar. They close on the conversation every owner should be having with their leadership team this week.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:• l  The hidden costs of staying in the weeds, and why growth is the first thing to go• l  What 'I have an open-door policy' actually means when you look at the calendar"• l  The four things owners should be spending their time on instead• The one conversation with your leadership team that surfaces where you're the bottleneckDOWNLOAD THE LEADERSHIP GUIDE:‍ ‍Episode 187: What Owners Should Be Working On (But Rarely Are)HELP US IMPROVE THE SHOW: Take our 30 second SurveyHave a question for the show? Email us at [email protected] WITH AXIOM• Website• LinkedIn• Instagram• Facebook• YouTubeABOUT AXIOM STRATEGIC: Axiom Strategic helps business owners and leaders build mission-driven businesses by aligning culture, leadership, operations, sales, and financials.

The fear of losing a customer is rarely the real fear. In this episode of Grow With Purpose, Joey Brannon sits down with Tommy Rohrlack to work through what’s keeping founders in every decision, and what it costs every day they don’t let go.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:• Why loss aversion makes the risk of delegating feel bigger than it is.• The org chart signal that says you’ve capped your growth.• What “decision rights” means, and the three areas to define first.• The identity shift that happens when an owner stops being the builder of a companyDOWNLOAD THE LEADERSHIP GUIDE:‍ ‍186 - Risk, Control, and Letting Others DecideHELP US IMPROVE THE SHOW: Take our 30 second SurveyHave a question for the show? Email us at [email protected] WITH AXIOM• Website• LinkedIn• Instagram• Facebook• YouTubeABOUT AXIOM STRATEGIC: Axiom Strategic helps business owners and leaders build mission-driven businesses by aligning culture, leadership, operations, sales, and financials.

What if financial independence isn’t the destination—but the starting point for something greater? In this episode of Grow With Purpose, Joey Brannon sits down with Alan and Nicholas Irving to rethink wealth, retirement, and what it means to build something that lasts beyond your lifetime.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:• Why wealth should be viewed as a tool—not a trophy• The difference between “getting rich” and actually building wealth• How to move from retirement thinking to a “work optional” and purpose-driven lifeDOWNLOAD THE LEADERSHIP GUIDE:‍ ‍185 — Why Financial Independence Isn’t the Finish LineHELP US IMPROVE THE SHOW: Take our 30 second SurveyHave a question for the show? Email us at [email protected] WITH AXIOM• Website• LinkedIn• Instagram• Facebook• YouTubeABOUT AXIOM STRATEGIC: Axiom Strategic helps business owners and leaders build mission-driven businesses by aligning culture, leadership, operations, sales, and financials.

What if the most expensive decision you're making isn't a bad hire or a missed deal — it's the conversation you keep postponing?In this episode of Grow With Purpose, Joey Brannon and senior advisor Tommy Rohrlack get into the mechanics of high-stakes performance conversations at the leadership level, so you can lead with clarity instead of avoidance.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:• Why delaying a hard leadership conversation is still a decision — and a costly one• How to know when coaching isn't enough and a role change is needed• What clarity actually looks like in a hard performance conversationDOWNLOAD THE LEADERSHIP GUIDE:‍ ‍184 — The Hard Conversations No CEO Wants To HaveResources mentioned:• John Maxwell's:Law of the LidHELP US IMPROVE THE SHOW: Take our 30 second SurveyHave a question for the show? Email us at [email protected] WITH AXIOM• Website• LinkedIn• Instagram• Facebook• YouTubeABOUT AXIOM STRATEGIC: Axiom Strategic helps business owners and leaders build mission-driven businesses by aligning culture, leadership, operations, sales, and financials.

In this episode, the Axiom team debriefs a framework from behavioral researcher Vanessa Van Edwards on the three levels of human connection — moving from the throwaway questions that generate noise to the deeper ones that reveal how someone truly sees themselves — and talks through how business owners can apply it with their teams.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:• Why most questions don't build connection• How to move past small talk• Which questions create real engagement• Why listening matters as much as askingDOWNLOAD THE LEADERSHIP GUIDE:‍ ‍183 - The Three Levels of ConnectionResources mentioned:• Vanessa Van Edwards — Science of People• Debra Fine — The Fine Art of Small TalkHELP US IMPROVE THE SHOW: Take our 30 second SurveyHave a question for the show? Email us at [email protected] WITH AXIOM• Website• LinkedIn• Instagram• Facebook• YouTubeABOUT AXIOM STRATEGIC: Axiom Strategic helps business owners and leaders build mission-driven businesses by aligning culture, leadership, operations, sales, and financials.

You can exit your business one day — but will it be planned or forced? Joey and Cameron unpack why exit conversations can't wait, and what most partners discover too late about what their business is actually worth. Listen now so you can protect your largest personal asset before urgency — and emotion — take over.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:• Why every exit is either planned or forced — and what that means for your partnership• How decisions you're making today are quietly narrowing your exit options• Why what your business is worth depends entirely on who's buyingconversationDOWNLOAD THE LEADERSHIP GUIDE:  182 — What Happens When Business Partners Want Out at Different Times?Resources mentioned:• Episode 179 | Operating Agreements & Partnership Structure (ep. 1 of 4) • Episode 180 | The Owner Hat vs. TheEmployee Hat (ep. 2 of 4) • Episode 181 | Vision Alignment & Partnership Fit (ep. 3 of 4)HELP US IMPROVE THE SHOW: Take our 30 second SurveyHave a question for the show? Email us at [email protected] WITH AXIOM• Website• LinkedIn• Instagram• Facebook• YouTubeABOUT AXIOM STRATEGIC: Axiom Strategic helps business owners and leaders build mission-driven businesses by aligning culture, leadership, operations, sales, and financials.

In Part 3 of the Partnership Series, Joey Brannon and Cameron Earhart shift from structure to vision—exploring how assumptions, expectations, and misalignment create friction over time. They unpack how partners can stay aligned as businesses grow, roles evolve, and priorities change.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:•Why shared vision matters as businesses grow and evolve• How assumptions and expectations create hidden tension• Why vision alignment must be an ongoing conversationDOWNLOAD THE LEADERSHIP GUIDE: Episode 181 — Vision Alignment & Partnership Fit (ep. 3 of 4)HELP US IMPROVE THE SHOW: Take our 30 second SurveyHave a question for the show? Email us at [email protected] WITH AXIOM• Website• LinkedIn• Instagram• Facebook• YouTubeABOUT AXIOM STRATEGIC:Axiom Strategic helps business owners and leaders build mission-driven businesses by aligning culture, leadership, operations, sales, and financials.

What happens when partners blur ownership and operational roles? In Part 2 of our Partnership Series, Joey Brannon and Cameron Earhart explain how unclear roles create friction and why separating the employee and owner hats matter.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:• Partnerships need structure before conflict• Define decision rights, ownership, and compensation• Capital planning and buy-sell agreements protect partnershipsDOWNLOAD THE LEADERSHIP GUIDE: Episode 180: The Owner Hat vs. The Employee HatHELP US IMPROVE THE SHOW: Take our 30 second SurveyHave a question for the show? Email us at [email protected] WITH AXIOM• Website• LinkedIn• Instagram• Facebook• YouTubeABOUT AXIOM STRATEGIC:Axiom Strategic helps business owners and leaders build mission-driven businesses by aligning culture, leadership, operations, sales, and financials.

In this episode, Joey Brannon and Cameron Earhart explain why every partnership needs a clear operating agreement before pressure exposes structural gaps. They discuss decision authority, ownership vs. compensation, capital contributions, and buy-sell planning.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:• partnerships need a clear operating agreement before conflict• How to define decision authority, ownership, and compensation• Why capital planning and buy-sell agreements protect partnershipsDOWNLOAD THE LEADERSHIP GUIDE:･Episode 179: Operating Agreements & Partnership Structure HELP US IMPROVE THE SHOW: Take our 30 second Survey📞 Have a question for the show? Email us at [email protected] WITH AXIOM･ Website･ LinkedIn･ Instagram･ Facebook･ YouTubeABOUT AXIOM STRATEGIC:Axiom Strategic helps business owners and leaders build mission-driven businesses by aligning culture, leadership, operations, sales, and financials.

What if you could create a buyer for your company without selling to private equity or a strategic acquirer? In this episode of Grow With Purpose, Joey Brannon sits down with Jason Miller of Berman Hopkins to demystify Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) so you can understand how employee ownership works as a real exit option before ruling it out.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:･What it means to “create a market” for the shares of your privately held company･How fair market value standards shape ESOP negotiations･Why leadership communication determines whether employee ownership succeedsLEADERSHIP GUIDE:･178 - Demystifying ESOPsRESOURCES & LINKS:･ Journey to an ESOP Podcast･ Berman Hopkins･ Jason Miller LinkedInCONNECT WITH AXIOM STRATEGIC:･Website･LinkedIn･Instagram･Facebook･YouTubeHELP US IMPROVE THE SHOW: 📞 Have a question for the show? Email us at [email protected] AXIOM STRATEGIC:Axiom Strategic helps business owners and leaders build mission-driven businesses by aligning culture, leadership, operations, sales, and financials.

This is Part 3 of our 3-part Exit Series. In Episode 175, we discussed clarifying your motivation before going to market. In Episode 176, we explored financial readiness, valuation, and Quality of Earnings (QoE).In this episode, Joey Brannon and Cameron Earhart explain what happens after signing a Letter of Intent (LOI), when buyers begin due diligence and evaluate risk across financials, contracts, employees, operations, and legal exposure—and why preparation protects valuation and leverage once scrutiny begins.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:• What buyers evaluate during due diligence• Why retrading happens• How owner dependence affects valuation• Why seller hesitation causes deals to failLEADERSHIP GUIDE:･Episode 177 — Leadership GuideA guide to navigating due diligence and protecting valuation after an LOIRELATED EPISODES & LINKS:･Episode 175 — Why Most Business Exits Fail Before They Start (Exit Series · Part 1 of 3)･Episode 176 —Financial Readiness, Valuation & Buyer Trust (Exit Series · Part 2 of 3)･Purpose Driven Growth — Axis Outsourced AccountingCONNECT WITH AXIOM:･ Website･ LinkedIn･ Instagram･ Facebook･ YouTubeHELP US IMPROVE THE SHOW:📞 Have a question for the show? Email us at [email protected] AXIOM STRATEGIC:Axiom Strategic helps business owners and leaders build mission-driven businesses by aligning culture, leadership, operations, sales, and financials.

What actually changes a business from a 7x multiple to 5x during diligence? In this episode of Grow With Purpose, Joey Brannon and Cameron Earhart explain why clean financials alone aren’t enough—and how understanding buyer risk can protect valuation long before you go to market.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:･ The difference between clean financials and buyer-ready financials･Why a Quality of Earnings (QoE) review before going to market protects leverage･How perceived risk—not negotiation—drives valuation multiplesLEADERSHIP GUIDE:･ EPISODE 176 LEADERSHIP GUIDELINKS MENTIONED:･Axis Outsourced Accounting HELP US IMPROVE THE SHOW: 📞 Have a question for the show? Email us at [email protected] WITH AXIOM･ Website･ LinkedIn･ Instagram･ Facebook･ YouTubeABOUT AXIOM STRATEGICAxiom Strategic helps business owners and leaders build mission-driven businesses by aligning culture, leadership, operations, sales, and financials.

Most business exits fail before due diligence ever begins. In this episode of Grow With Purpose, Joey Brannon sits down with Senior Business Advisor Cameron Earhart to discuss why clarity—not urgency—determines whether an exit actually works. Before owners ever talk to buyers or private equity, they must understand their motivations, risks inside the business, and how buyer expectations shape valuation.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:･ Why most business exits fail before owners ever go to market･ How owner dependency and unresolved risk impact valuation･ Why exit planning strengthens the business—even if you never sellLEADERSHIP GUIDE:• Episode 175 — Before You Talk to Buyers (Exit Series · Part 1 of 3)RESOURCES & LINKS:･ John Warrillow - Built to Sell･ Michael E. Gerber - The E-Myth Revisited･ Axis Outsourced AccountingHELP US IMPROVE THE SHOW: 📞 Have a question for the show? Email us at [email protected] WITH AXIOM:･ Website･ LinkedIn･ Instagram･ Facebook･ YouTubeABOUT AXIOM STRATEGIC:Axiom Strategic helps business owners and leaders build mission-driven businesses by aligning culture, leadership, operations, sales, and financials.

Joey Brannon and Mike LoBue discuss how strong client relationships are formed, the role internal culture plays in external trust, and why consistency and follow-through are essential for building credibility over the long term.

Episode 173 — The 7% Problem: Why Communication Breaks DownMost communication breakdowns don’t come from bad intent — they come from missing context.In this episode of Grow With Purpose, Joey Brannon sits down with communication and executive presence expert Mitch Lomazov to explore why leaders are often misunderstood, even when they believe they’re being clear.They unpack how meaning is shaped by more than words alone, why email and text frequently create friction, and how leaders can reduce miscommunication by treating communication as a system — not a personality trait.In this episode, you’ll hear about:Why written communication often removes critical contextHow to match the right communication medium to the messageWhat high-functioning teams do differently with silenceHow executive presence is built through technique, not charismaThis conversation offers practical insight for leaders who want their messages to land with clarity and alignment.

Leadership breakdowns rarely come from a lack of effort or care. More often, they happen quietly — through drift.In this final episode of the From Laborer to Leader series, Joey Brannon and Mike LoBue explore why leadership growth cannot sustain itself on mindset alone. Even the most capable leaders will default back to familiar behaviors when structure disappears.This conversation focuses on the disciplines that protect leadership over time — especially as pressure, growth, and urgency increase.You’ll learn:Why leadership drift is usually a discipline problem, not a motivation problemHow lack of structure pulls leaders back into technical workWhy owners unintentionally slow leadership growth by failing to protect leadership timeThe role of consistent check-ins, clear expectations, and feedback rhythmsHow systems reduce exhaustion and make leadership sustainableWhy leadership development must be intentional — not assumedThis episode provides practical insight for business owners, executives, and leadership teams who want to develop leaders that can carry responsibility without burning out or drifting backward.Leadership doesn’t grow by accident.It grows when mindset, structure, and support work together.Download the Episode 172 Leadership Guide to turn these disciplines into practical tools you can implement immediately.

Promoting your best worker is often the right move — but leadership struggles usually don’t come from a lack of skill. They come from a lack of identity.In From Laborer to Leader — Part 2, Joey Brannon and Mike LoBue unpack why leadership development must begin with mindset before tactics ever work. New leaders often struggle not because they lack effort or ability, but because they still see themselves as technicians instead of leaders.This episode explores how identity, self-talk, and coachability shape a leader’s confidence and behavior. You’ll learn why mindset work feels uncomfortable but is essential, how leaders act in alignment with how they see themselves, and what owners can do to help leaders fully step into their role.If you want leadership development that actually sticks — not just promotions that create frustration — this episode provides the foundation for sustainable growth.

When your best worker becomes a new leader, the transition isn’t always smooth. In Part 1 of the From Laborer to Leader series, Joey and Mike break down the leadership paradox facing small businesses today—why technical excellence doesn’t automatically translate into leadership success, and what it truly costs when that gap goes unaddressed. Drawing from real client stories and years of field experience, they unpack the hidden impact on production, team morale, the business owner’s bandwidth, and the individual who suddenly feels in over their head. This episode highlights the critical need for intentional equipping, clear expectations, and leadership development if you want your people—and your company—to grow with purpose.

In this episode of Grow With Purpose, Joey Brannon talks with Skip Stanton, CEO and co-owner of Aqua Plumbing & Air, about leading with faith, integrity, and character. Skip shares his journey from a truck and $5,000 to leading over 180 employees, and the lessons he’s learned about building people first, mentoring leaders, choosing kindness without lowering expectations, and creating a legacy rooted in faith rather than private equity offers. A must-listen for business owners and leaders who want to build a company that lasts and reflects values beyond the bottom line.

Joey revisits OG Mandino’s timeless books The Greatest Salesman in the World and Part II: The End of the Story to explore how leadership evolves from chasing success to living with significance. Discover what it means to lead with purpose, faith, and service — and finish the race well.

In Part 3 of our Axis Series, Joey Brannon and JoAnna Kelso dig into what clean financials actually unlock for business leaders—real insights that inform better decisions. From understanding the balance sheet, to managing depreciation and taxes, to shifting from reactive bookkeeping to proactive financial strategy, this episode reveals why outsourced accounting with Axis isn’t just about numbers—it’s about confidence, clarity, and growth. Plus, learn how Axis and Axiom work hand-in-hand to help business owners not only survive, but thrive with purpose.

In Part 2 of the Axis Series, Joey Brannon sits down with JoAnna Kelso, President of Axis Outsourced Accounting, to explore why outsourcing your accounting department delivers more than bookkeeping. From reducing the mental load of hiring and turnover, to leveraging weekly dashboards and cutting-edge tools, JoAnna explains how outsourcing transforms accounting into a strategic advantage. Learn how vendor and customer management, consistent categorization, and real-time clarity give business owners confidence and space to focus on growth.

Accounting is the language of business — but too often, financials are inconsistent, late, or misleading. That false story leads to frustration, costly mistakes, and missed opportunities.In this episode of the Grow With Purpose Podcast, Joey Brannon sits down with JoAnna Kelso, President of Axis Outsourced Accounting, to unpack why clean financials matter more than perfection. From avoiding “bank balance decisions” to preparing for long-term growth or a business exit, JoAnna explains how consistency in the numbers builds confidence in every decision.Discover the hidden costs of messy books, the value of having a trusted advisor instead of a reactive bookkeeper, and how weekly clarity empowers leaders to move faster, make better choices, and build a stronger business.

What does it take to scale a business without losing your core values? In Episode 163, Vince Virga of PFS shares how conviction, belief, and systems helped him move from chaos to clarity. Joey Brannon and Cameron Earhart unpack the leadership principles behind his journey — from letting go of control to empowering a culture of accountability and growth.This candid conversation offers entrepreneurs practical tools and timeless wisdom for scaling with intention.

Leadership can be one of the loneliest callings. In this episode of Grow With Purpose, Joey Brannon sits down with C12 Chair Doug Poll to explore why accountability, faith, and community transform the way leaders grow. Discover how C12 challenges business owners to lead with transparency at work and at home — and why true growth happens when leaders stop going it alone.

If your team can’t move without you, you’re the bottleneck.Most business owners don’t suffer from a lack of effort—they suffer from underdeveloped leadership within their teams. In this episode of Grow With Purpose, Joey Brannon and Mike LoBue unpack what Tier 2 leadership development looks like in real-world businesses—and why it delivers the highest ROI you’re probably overlooking.They’ll dive into the real signs of leadership struggle (like nonstop fire drills and exhausted managers), the differences between professional and leadership development, and how to multiply your team's capacity without hiring anyone new.Key Takeaways:Why the “I’ll just do it myself” mindset kills momentumThe connection between time management and effective leadershipHow to spot and support emerging leaders already on your teamThe difference between skilled professionals and actual leadersWhy the best businesses run better when the owner steps awayWhether you’re leading from the field or the boardroom, this conversation gives you the tools and mindset shifts needed to move your business forward—by building leaders who can carry it without you.

After 20 years of business, leadership growth, and podcasting, Axiom is stepping into a new season — and a new name: Grow with Purpose.In this powerful relaunch episode, Joey Brannon is joined by longtime friend and leadership coach Doug Poll, who helped shape Axiom’s evolution from solopreneur startup to mission-driven firm. Doug shares the honest conversations and carefrontations that challenged Joey to grow — not just as a leader, but as a father, husband, and steward of people.Together they unpack:How blind spots can sabotage leadershipThe role of empathy and listening in team buildingWhy carefrontations matter more than confrontationWhat it really means to grow with purposeWhether you’re a CEO, founder, or the right-hand person holding it all together — this episode will challenge, encourage, and remind you: growth is personal before it's professional.

Three founders. One shared vision. In this episode, Joey Brannon talks with David Yohn, Jamie Dunnam, and Mike Braun of iBusinessSolutions about building a people-first company from the ground up. From a lanai startup to a full-service payroll and HR platform, they share how faith, follow-through, and clarity of roles have sustained their partnership—and their clients—for nearly two decades.