Axiom Podcast - Axiom Strategic Consulting

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.

Angela is a business owner whose story transcends entrepreneurship, weaving faith, family, and transformation into a powerful narrative. After her mother's passing, Angela faced the daunting task of managing the estate amidst grief, uncertainty, and one banker's certainty that her relationship with her siblings would not survive the process. Through transparent communication and a commitment to unity, she navigated the complexities with grace and beat the odds.

Discover the remarkable journey of Angela Rodocker, owner of Silver Resorts, as she navigates the challenges of second-generation family business ownership and uses her enterprise to make a positive impact. This story showcases resilience, entrepreneurial spirit, and the transformative power of purpose-driven leadership.

In this episode of The Axiom Podcast, Tommy Rohrlack and Cameron Earhart take a deep dive into key questions every business owner should be asking. By walking through a few main examples, they provide listeners with practical, impactful, yet simple questions to ask both themselves, and their leadership team, in order to maintain a healthy pulse on their business.

In the latest episode of the Axiom podcast, hosts Shannon Lonergan and Devin Dash engage in a thought-provoking conversation to uncover the "why" behind their work at Axiom. Emphasizing the mission of building purpose-driven businesses, they explore the transformative power of well-run small businesses in positively impacting communities.

In this episode, Shannon and Lukas stress the significance of leaders harmonizing empathy and efficiency for optimal team performance and a positive work culture. They advocate for a clear vision, active listening, and genuine care as essential components, highlighting the paradox that, by fostering empathy, leaders empower employees to overcome daily challenges and excel, ultimately leading to increased efficiency.

There's a lot of options out there for all of us when it comes to efficiency and productivity. But the question we are asking you is are you choosing what is efficient specifically for you as the user? If not, why not and how can we change that?

In the final installation of our team podcast, we are wrapping up this series of conversations with Cameron and Shannon. During this podcast, you'll learn a little more about the heart behind why both Cameron and Shannon chose to listen to the calling God placed on them, and use their gifts at Axiom.

Continuing the conversation from two weeks ago, we are diving deeper in the backgrounds of our team members, what brought them to Axiom and how each one of them plays a critical role here at Axiom. If you have never met one of our team members, we hope that this series serves as a good introduction. If we have been fortunate enough to meet, we hope this episode will feel like a long-overdue conversation of catching up! Lukas Oest talks about his time as a foreign exchange student from Germany, coming to Sarasota as a 16-year-old! Joey Brannon discusses why he pivoted from CPA work to consulting, and how Axiom has become what it is today.

In the first episode of a 3 part series, our host Shannon Lonergan is joined by the entire Axiom team for a fun full-team podcast where we dive a little deeper into our team members and learn more about ourselves personally and professionally. Shoutout to Baysound Studios for providing their studio space for this seven-person podcast. This week, you'll hear from Carrie Luster, our team's Firm Administrator (or chaos coordinator), Devin Dash, and Tommy Rohrlack, two of our Senior Consultants.

This week's episode of The Axiom Podcast discusses viewing business as a ministry by focusing on serving customers. Successful businesses are those that identify and meet their customers' needs. Tune in to learn more about how you can lead a business as a ministry.

Lukas Oest, our newest team member, makes his debut on The Axiom Podcast, where he joins Shannon Lonergan to talk about Axiom's four core values: care, truth, diligence, and learning. In this episode, we uncover the importance of having core values and how they are applied in a business setting.

In this episode of The Axiom Podcast, Shannon and Joey discuss the difficulties and advantages of delegating tasks as a leader and offer practical advice on improving delegation skills. The conversation starts with why delegation is challenging for high achievers. It is difficult to relinquish control of tasks, but it will bear much fruit for the leader and team members involved. Joey explains delegation involves a trade-off because explaining tasks and training others to handle them takes time. Nevertheless, empowering others to take over responsibilities can save leaders time in the long run.

Good leadership starts from within. It's about serving your team, empowering them, and living the values you want them to embody. Listen to our newest podcast episode now and embark on your journey towards effective servant leadership.

Drawing insights from Joey's book, "Grow with Purpose," this podcast discussion centered around the importance of leaders being accountable to their teams and fostering a culture of accountability.

In our latest podcast, we dive into the world of creating and executing quarterly priorities. Join us as we explore the benefits of this strategic planning method and how it differs from regular tasks. Quarterly priorities allow you to step back and plan for the next 90 days, enabling you to focus on the big things you want to accomplish - the framework being the popular OKR (Objectives and Key Results) method. At Axiom, we understand the power of quarterly priorities and how they contribute to successful leadership teams. However, we also recognize the importance of allocating dedicated time for quarterly meetings. Tune into our podcast to learn more about this game-changing approach and how to stay accountable to your goals!

Coming out of our 3 part series on the idea of “No Bad Teams” (listen to part 1-3 wherever you listen to podcasts!), we wanted to share some statistics from our pre Lunch + Learn survey that we sent out to both of the groups that we presented to. The numbers we talk about in this podcast are coming from 39 different businesses across the Southwest Florida region, with the goal of shedding light on the fact that nobody is immune to struggling with their team and or leadership.