Category: Business

Kill Your Momentum in One Easy Step

A team can’t outgrow its leader. Your growth determines your team’s growth. And one of the biggest areas of growth? Decision-making.

Type 1 vs. Type 2 Decisions (Clarity & Ownership)

Not all decisions are the same. Some are like walking through a one-way door—once you step through, there’s no going back. Others? They’re two-way doors—if you don’t like what you see, just step back out.

  • Type 1 decisions are big, high-stakes, and hard to undo. These set the foundation for your business, relationships, and life. Think: “Will you marry me?” Once you’re in, you’re in.
  • Type 2 decisions are flexible, lower-risk, and should be made quickly. They let you experiment, adjust, and learn. Think: “Should we test a new marketing strategy?” If it flops, no big deal—you pivot.

The problem? Too many people treat every decision like a Type 1, and it grinds everything to a halt.

The Core Value Killer

When I confuse Type 2 decisions for Type 1, I kill momentum and violate every one of my core values.

  • Fear-Based Culture (Attitude Violation) – If every decision feels like life or death, people stop taking initiative.
  • Decision Paralysis (Action Violation) – Overanalyzing and hesitation lead to missed opportunities.
  • Overloading Leadership (Accountability Violation) – Leaders get buried in decisions others should handle.
  • Lost Speed & Missed Opportunities (Improvement Violation) – Business thrives on speed, but delays cost progress.
  • Wasted Energy & Time (Service Violation) – Teams spin their wheels in endless debates instead of moving forward.

The Opportunity Tree

Life is like a tree full of opportunities. Every decision takes you further down a branch. Some branches split in multiple directions, giving you room to move, adjust, and grow. Others? They end, forcing you to either stay put or cut them off entirely.

Type 1 decisions are those branches you can’t retreat from—once you go out, there’s no coming back. They shape the structure of your life, your business, and your relationships.

Type 2 decisions, though, are branches that let you explore. If you don’t like where they lead, you can back up and take a different path.

The biggest mistake? Treating every decision like a trunk or an irreversible branch. Growth doesn’t come from standing still—it comes from taking steps, learning, and adjusting along the way.

So, next time you’re at a crossroads, ask yourself: Is this a Type 1 or Type 2 decision? Because knowing the difference is what keeps your tree growing strong.

Focus on the Prize, Not the Shiny Stuff

There’s real truth in Dan Martell’s words: “Most companies die of indigestion not starvation.” It’s not a lack of opportunity that sinks us—it’s the endless chase after every flashy distraction. And that’s exactly what God is telling us through Proverbs 24.

Grow in Wisdom, Build Your Strength

Proverbs 24:5 reminds us, “A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.” God isn’t urging you to add clutter to your life. Instead, He’s challenging you to set your sights on something far greater: wisdom. Not the quick fix or trending fad, but the deep, unshakeable knowledge that builds true strength. When you grow in wisdom, you discover that the prize is found in the journey of self-discovery.

Measure Your Progress Against Life’s Tests

Proverbs 24:10 declares, “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.” Life will test you—it’s inevitable. When adversity strikes, ask yourself: do you crumble, or do you measure your resolve and rise? The true measure of strength isn’t found in ease but in how you handle the storm.

Repeat: Rise Again, Every Time

Proverbs 24:16 tells us, “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again.” Seven isn’t just a number—it’s a reminder of perfection in persistence. Fall, learn, rise, and repeat. This cycle isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s proof of your relentless spirit. Every time you get back up, you’re growing into the person you’re meant to be.

As you navigate your journey in business, relationships, and your personal walk with God. Every fall is a lesson, and every rise is a testament to your resilience.

Stay focused. Don’t chase every shiny distraction. Grow in wisdom and knowledge, measure your strength in adversity, and rise again—because if you’re determined to get up, you will grow.

Remember… You are the prize.

Replacements – Getting the Right People on the Team

Proverbs 19:27
“Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.”

Getting the right people on the team isn’t just important—it’s vital. In business, the difference between growth and chaos often comes down to the people you surround yourself with. I wish I could tell you we’ve always nailed it at SignMaster, that we’ve mastered the art of hiring rockstars who perfectly fit their roles… but that would be a lie.

Here’s how our journey unfolded.

Nice to Meet You. You’re Hired.

For years, our hiring process could be summed up in one line: “Nice to meet you. You’re hired.” No formal process. No detailed job descriptions. Nothing. We were a small, scrappy team, and I convinced myself we didn’t need a structured approach.

Most of our hires came from personal connections—friends of friends or folks from my local church. I didn’t have specific roles in mind; I just needed help. And so I hired people.

Thank God, most of them were high-character individuals who genuinely wanted to contribute. But looking back, it’s clear how risky that approach was. High character isn’t the same as high competence. And good people don’t always fit well in every role.

We Agree. You’re Hired.

As SignMaster grew, I realized we needed a better system. I picked up the book “Traction” by Gino Wickman, and it hit me: getting the right people on the team wasn’t enough. You also had to get them in the right seat.

We formed a hiring committee made up of our existing team members. We crafted a list of interview questions and decided we’d all interview each candidate, then take a vote. If everyone agreed… You’re hired.

Sounds democratic, right? But man, it was a disaster. Our batting average plummeted. In fact, I think it was even worse than the “Nice to meet you” method. Why? I’ve got a theory. By then, we were pulling from a bigger pool of applicants. And the larger the pool, the harder it is to find a keeper. It’s like fishing in deeper waters—the odds of reeling in a prize catch go down.

Culture, Process, Time. You’re Hired.

We’ve come a long way since then. We’ve upped our game, and our “batting average” has definitely improved. Here’s how:

Culture.
Culture eats strategy for breakfast. That’s not just a cliché; it’s the truth. We’ve become laser-focused on our core values, and we don’t compromise. We use Culture Index personality profiles for every potential hire, and our interview questions are designed to filter out anyone who won’t thrive in our culture.

Process.
We’ve learned that personality assessments are just one piece of the puzzle. One of our team leads—someone with a natural talent for discernment—crafted a series of interview questions that, when paired with the personality profile, have become our secret weapon. The process is rigorous, but it works.

Time.
You’ve heard the saying: “Hire slow, fire fast.” This is the third pillar of our approach. We take our time. We never rush to fill a role, no matter how desperate the need feels. And if someone needs to be let go, I take full responsibility—it means I failed in the hiring process.

Parallels to Life

Here’s the thing: This isn’t just about business. This is about life. We’re all CEOs of our own lives, whether we realize it or not. I have to run the “Tommy Trucks” business every day, and just like in SignMaster, my success hinges on the people I allow on my team.

In my personal life, I have friends, mentors, family members, and acquaintances who influence my decisions and my growth. Some lift me up, while others might pull me off course. If I’m not intentional about who I let in, I can end up surrounded by the wrong influences.

Just like in business… “Hire slow and fire fast.”

Who are you letting on your team? Who’s got influence in your life?

Maybe it’s time to make some replacements.

The Price of Everything (And the Cost of Some Things)

At SignMaster, we’re evaluating our pricing structure, and I’ve been reading Confessions of the Pricing Man. It’s a fascinating deep dive into how pricing affects everything—business, psychology, even human behavior. Highly recommend it.

But during my scripture reading today, I came across something that put price in a whole different light:

Proverbs 17:23
A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

And it got me thinking—

  • What was the amount of the gift?
  • What was the judgment being perverted?

I’ve probably watched too many gangster movies, so my mind immediately went to bribery and extortion. But maybe it’s much smaller than that—more subtle, more personal.

How many times have I made the wrong decision because it benefited me?

Not every price is measured in dollars. Sometimes it’s measured in integrity. Convenience. Compromise.

Some things should never have a price tag.

The Right Thing

The Right Thing

Often, as an entrepreneur, you have to turn off the noise. You have to stop listening to what other people are saying and do your thing. Some of the greatest ideas and inventions have been brought into existence in spite of what others think.

In the midst of the chaos of creation, it’s good to regularly take a pause and evaluate.

Is this what I wanted?
Am I missing something BIG?
Is there any collateral damage?
How many people am I helping?
Is the cost still worth it?
Is this the right thing?

Clearing the calendar and the smoke for a day or two to think deeply about these types of questions will save you lots of money, but more importantly…TIME. Perfecting the wrong idea is always a bad idea. Some of our ideas should be executed, and others should be executed.

Doing the right thing is more important than doing the thing right.

Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? [2] He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

Psalm 15:1-2 KJV

The Head

Care for People

Are you the Head Honcho? The big cheese?

I remember an old saying, “If you want a fresh drink of water, go to the head of the stream.” In other words if you want the truth, ask the person who knows; or if you need permission, ask the person with the authority to grant it. Many systems and organizations are so opaque and complicated, it’s hard to find the head.

Here are a few things we can do to keep our organizations flowing freely.

Don’t just train, teach. 
If you teach someone WHY, you unlock personal genius and they become a better team player. Understanding creates confidence creates initiative creates efficiency.

Allow failure.
An environment where small failures are actually praised and shared is magical. When people are allowed to TRY without fear, new ideas come to light. A few winning ideas can be a game changer.

Encourage and invest.
People care about people who care about them. When we CARE it positively affects productivity and bottom lines; but more importantly, it changes lives.

Everyone has a BOSS.
Regardless of where you are on the ladder, you have a boss. Like it or not, one day you will be asked to give account for your work.

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; [4] What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Psalm 8:3-4 KJV

Understanding

Understanding

Vision + Explanation = Understanding

Great leadership and strong culture gives understanding to vision and growth. Conversely, vision without leadership creates questions, anxiety, and confusion.

The explanation is just as important as the vision.
If they can’t understand you, they won’t follow you.

So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

Nehemiah 8:8 KJV

The Success Cycle

Regret

I often use the phrase, “Spin Up”. It’s just a loose way of saying, get better over time. This morning, while reading Nehemiah 1-2, a process for the phrase became clear. You could call it The Success Cycle.

1. Need
This is the starting point and the inflection point for the success cycle. When you first start, you see there is a lack of understanding or ability within yourself. Later the need is exposed by action and adversity. Either way, it’s up to you to see it and then take the next step.

2. Preparation
School, apprenticeship, mentors, reading, and learning. Preparation can take place in a classroom, pasture, factory, or kitchen table. Build a solid foundation that will not crumble under the weight of what is coming. Beware that you don’t get stuck here. There are many would-be success stories that find comfort in preparation and turn it into procrastination.

3. Opportunity
Your preparation has sharpened your vision and you can see the possibilities. Choose and take the next step.

4. Action
I have always said, there is real magic in action. Action is the separator between success and failure. Face the fear and seize the opportunity. Remember, regret is the only failure that cannot be overcome.

5. Adversity
If you are in the game, seizing opportunities and acting on them, you will run up against adversity. Whether procedural or personal, adversity will expose your weakness and need. Embrace adversity because it will show you where to start your next cycle.

Now, the next time I say “Spin Up”, we will both know exactly what I’m talking about. 🙂

Gossip

Solve Problems with Communication

Seldom is it a good idea to discuss problems and disagreements with a third party. This backward mode of communication creates gossip, negativity and rot.

Here are a few things to help when having an uncomfortable face to face.

1. Be humble.
No matter your position, communication and correction is better received with humility.

2. Never attack.
“You are a terrible person because you did this.” Wrong! Avoid personal attacks. The action is usually the problem, not the person. “I’m sure this wasn’t intentional, but when you did X it caused Y?” Focus on the action.

3. Show you care.
If you do the first two, it will open the door to have a conversation. When we communicate, problems get solved.

4. Face your fear.
We all love sunshine and roses, but nothing grows without a little rain. Call it for what it is, embrace it, and step into the fear. If you can have the conversations when they are needed, you can avoid the thunderstorms. 😉

Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself ; and discover not a secret to another:

Proverbs 25:9 KJV

Winning

Infinite Game

Competition sports have a winner and a loser, but they also have a next season. If you think about it, almost everything from sports to business to politics to life works like this. We play to win, but we also play to keep playing. Don’t get so consumed with winning that you sacrifice the other players or the game itself. Honor, grace, and truth are just as important as hard work, dedication, and willpower.

It is short sighted to sell the truth.
It is short sighted to sell employees for profit.
It is short sighted to sell the long term for the short term.

If you win in such a way that people stop playing, YOU LOSE.

Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

Proverbs 23:23 KJV

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