How a Results-Driven Culture Fueled $9M in Growth | Ken Wood (Ep. 251)

When Ken Wood and his partner Mick launched Five Star Bath Solutions in 2019, the top revenue for other locations in their franchise network was roughly $1 million/yr.

When they said they were going to build a $5-6 million business, people looked at them like they were from Mars.

This year, they're hitting $9 million.

But redefining what was possible required some brutal lessons—like learning to "own it before delegating it," accepting that sometimes good people can't scale with your business, and realizing that what got them to $3M would never get them to $10M.

In this raw, tactical conversation, Ken pulls back the curtain on:

• The accountability, tough love, and breakthroughs that happen when you're in a room with other ambitious contractors who are actually implementing and growing.
• The "Hire 3 to Get 1" philosophy that accelerated their growth (and why betting on just one person sets you up to fail)
• Advice for when you want to hire a unicorn on a $70k budget
• Why shifting from loyalty culture to results culture is painful but necessary
• The two responsibilities owners should give up last
• The thing to say to a great person you have to fire (and who to make the bad guy)
• What "working ON vs. IN your business" actually looks like when you're doing $9M and planning for $30M
• And his Stephen Covey-inspired approach to building a business (and life) worth having

Ken also shares the story of bumping into Mick at church after the 2008 crash, how Accelerate LIVE! completely rewired their thinking about what's possible, and why he comes back from every Success Society meeting ready to hit the ground running.

Key Highlights:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:34) Welcome to Episode 251 with Ken Wood

(01:50) From Corporate to Crash to $9M: Ken & Mick's Origin Story

(05:22) The Brutal Lessons That Got Them Here

(06:22) The Event That Opened Their Eyes to What's Possible

(08:54) Why Your Franchise Is Capping Your Growth (And What to Do About It)

(14:08) "Hire Three to Get One"—The Hiring Advice That Changed Everything

(18:38) Are You the "Technician," "Manager," "Builder," or "Visionary?”

(19:43) Why Ken Had to OWN Marketing Before Hiring For It

(26:59) The Last Two Things You Should EVER Give Up as an Owner

(28:50) How to Shift from Loyalty Culture to Results Culture (Without Being a Jerk)

(32:25) The Thing to Say to a Great Person You Have to Fire—And Who to Make the Bad Guy

(38:04) Stop Relying on Aggregators—Find 20% New Lead Sources Every Year

(42:03) Why You Should Work ON Your Business vs. IN Your Business

(43:03) Ken’s Parting Advice: The Peer Group "Worth 5 Times the Price of Admission"

(47:18) Meet The Group That Helped Fuel Ken’s Success

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