How Firing Their Top Performer Saved Steve Egner’s Company Culture

It’s every owner’s nightmare: your highest-producing tech is also the one creating the most chaos.

In this episode of The $100 Million Mindset, Todd Liles and Alan O’Neill sit down with Steve Egner of Steve’s Plumbing to unpack one of the hardest leadership calls you’ll ever face—firing your top performer for the sake of your team and culture.

What followed was a total rebuild, a new hiring philosophy, and a business stronger than ever. This episode is a roadmap for owners navigating team dysfunction, culture clashes, and the cost of misaligned talent.

You’ll learn how to:

-Fire for values, not just performance -Rebuild your company culture from the ground up -Use systems and inspections to raise standards -Develop apprentices instead of hiring egos -Lead your company without staying in the truck -Scale through clarity, accountability, and grit

Mentioned in this episode:

• The firing that protected the long-term culture

• Mandatory inspections and high-accountability systems

• The Culture Index and values-based hiring

• Steve’s story of near financial collapse—and total rebuild

• Apprenticeship that builds people, not just skill

• Leadership transitions and stepping out of the truck

If this episode hit home, follow, review, and share it with a business owner who’s ready to grow with purpose. The $100 Million Mindset isn’t for the average—it’s for those bold enough to lead, scale, and leave a legacy.

Resources & Links:

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🔗 Full show notes and resources: www.toddliles.com/mindset