Don’t Get Distracted. Keep Pushing the Two Main Buttons — Matthew Thompson
Release Date: 03/04/2025
I Overcomplicated Medicare Advantage (And Found a Simple Fix That Worked) — Fady Sahhar
Home Care Hindsight
Fady Sahhar, a disability advocate and home care strategist with decades of experience, unveils how Medicare Advantage is reshaping home care—and why agencies must rethink caregiver training to thrive. In this eye-opening conversation with host David Knack, Fady shares: Why 750+ Medicare Advantage plans now cover home care (and how to tap into this growing market). The "lifetime value" mindset shift that turns clients into long-term partners. How peer coaching solves EVV resistance and caregiver retention challenges. Fady also reveals common cultural blindspots when expanding into new...
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How My Control Freak Tendencies Almost Sank My Deals (And What Fixed It) — Bruce Vanderlaan
Home Care Hindsight
Bruce Vanderlaan, seasoned investment banker and home care M&A expert, reveals how control-freak tendencies can sabotage agency growth, and why letting go is the key to unlocking real value. In this candid conversation with host David Knack, Bruce shares hard-won lessons from decades of guiding home care owners through exits, including: The financial metrics buyers actually care about (and why "too profitable" can be a red flag). How over-control devalues your agency—and how to fix it. The surprising role of culture in maximizing your sale price. Bruce also dives into common...
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Exclusivity Almost Killed Our Culture — Jensen Jones
Home Care Hindsight
Jensen Jones, CEO of Home Care CEO, opens up about the surprising mindset shift that reshaped his entire business model from an “exclusive” high-revenue think tank to a values-driven, mission-aligned community. In this candid conversation, Jensen and host David Knack explore how aligning personal values with business decisions can radically improve culture, retention, and growth. Jensen reflects on how his father's illness helped define his core values and how he now helps agencies scale without losing their humanity. He reveals the dangers of over-customizing roles, why playbooks prevent...
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How Chasing Growth Nearly Broke My Business (And the Process That Saved It) — Dr. Greg Sanchez Jr.
Home Care Hindsight
Dr. Greg Sanchez, a former pharmaceutical scientist turned Home Instead franchise owner, shares how rapid growth nearly derailed his business, and the policies that saved it. From evacuating bedbound clients during wildfires to securing $400K in training grants, Greg reveals how to scale without sacrificing stability. Learn why overtime below 2% is possible, how to hire schedulers who thrive on chaos, and why the "gray market" of private caregivers threatens the industry. In this episode, you’ll discover: 1. The hidden costs of growing "at all costs" and how to avoid bankruptcy. 2....
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Metrics Made Me Blind: The Culture Lesson That Saved My Business — John Bennett
Home Care Hindsight
John Bennett, CEO of DLEM Holdings, reveals how his obsession with data nearly stalled his multi-agency empire—until one accidental escape room outing reignited growth. In this heartfelt episode, John shares how culture saved his business, what he learned from six acquisitions (including one that led to an FBI raid), and the systems that allow his team to thrive across five states. From team rituals and storytelling to onboarding playbooks and Zingage gamification, John maps out how he’s scaling connections without losing control. In this episode, you’ll discover: 1. The three types...
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The Control Trap That Stalled My Growth (and How Positive Psychology Broke Me Free) — Aaron Marcum
Home Care Hindsight
Aaron Marcum, home care industry titan and founder of Breakaway365, reveals how his obsession with control nearly destroyed two companies—and how Martin Seligman’s positive psychology transformed him into a leader who scaled his business *while taking 8-week sabbaticals*. In this raw conversation, Aaron dismantles toxic myths about turnover and "balance," shares why presence beats perks for loyalty, and delivers a science-backed framework for building self-multiplying teams. In this episode, you’ll discover: 1. How Aaron almost abandoned Home Care Pulse mid-study—and the 8-month hunt...
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Why I Acted Like a One-Talent Leader (and What Snapped Me Out of It) — Todd Allen
Home Care Hindsight
Todd Allen, CEO of AxisCare, shares how a personal caregiving experience led him into the home care technology space and the transformative mindset shift that changed his leadership approach. In this conversation with David Knack, Todd unpacks what “play to win” means in home care, why AI needs cautious adoption, and how proactive health habits (for you and your caregivers) can transform outcomes. In this episode, you’ll discover: 1. Why AxisCare started as an internal tool—and how it grew into a mission-critical SaaS for agencies. 2. The hidden risk of perfectionism in business and...
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SEO, Google Ads, and AI in Home Care — Jeremy Fuller
Home Care Hindsight
Jeremy Fuller, a digital marketing expert with 23 years of experience and founder of Grow Senior Care Marketing, shares actionable insights for home care agencies. In this episode, you’ll discover: 1. The ChatGPT Surprise: How a client found their agency through ChatGPT—without it being a marketing goal. 2. The $500 Mistake: Why most home care agencies waste 80% of their Google Ads budget (and how to fix it). 3. Automation Pitfalls: The dangers of over-automating caregiver recruitment and how to strike the right balance. 4. SEO Myths Debunked: Why tracking rankings isn’t SEO—and...
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Why Your Best Employees Quit (And How to Keep Them) — Krystal Wilkinson
Home Care Hindsight
Krystal Wilkinson, owner of a 4-location home care agency in Arizona, shares hard-won lessons from 13 years in the trenches. In this episode, you’ll discover: 1. The $250,000 Mistake: How holding onto toxic employees cost her top performers (and how to spot the red flags earlier) 2. The "Golf Cart Law" Effect: How advocating for seniors’ safety became a unexpected business growth lever 3. Caregiver Shout-Outs That Stick: The Wednesday ritual that boosted retention (including a 17-year employee) 4. From Theater Major to Home Care CEO: Why her Broadway background makes her a better leader...
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This Franchise Training Mistake That Almost Broke Our New Owners — Christina Chartrand
Home Care Hindsight
Christina Chartrand, SVP of Training at Senior Helpers, reveals why companionship is the unspoken "glue" of home care—even if no one pays for it directly. In this episode, she shares: 1. The sugarcoating mistake that backfired with new franchisees (and how brutal honesty builds better owners) 2. Why puppetry skills translate to dementia care (plus her past life as a professional puppeteer) 3. The 3-year rollercoaster rule—why early chaos is normal (and when it stabilizes) 4. Age-Friendly Care certification—how Senior Helpers is redefining senior independence Lesson Takeaways: 1....
info_outlineIn this episode of Home Care Hindsight, host David Knack sits down with Matt Thompson, franchise owner of Visiting Angels, to discuss the biggest challenge business owners face—distractions.
Matt shares how he keeps his team focused on what truly matters: caregiver and client acquisition.
From implementing daily huddles to leveraging caregiver incentives through Zingage, Matt offers practical insights into leadership, culture-building, and staying on track in the home care industry.
Lesson Takeaways:
- Avoid distractions by focusing on high-impact activities.
- Set clear daily goals and track progress through end-of-day reports.
- Use incentives to motivate caregivers and improve retention.
- Build a strong office culture through daily team huddles.
- Encourage positive reinforcement over punitive measures.
Timestamps:
- [00:00:00] Introduction to Matt Thompson and Visiting Angels.
- [00:02:00] The challenge of distractions in business.
- [00:05:00] Using Zingage for caregiver incentives and retention.
- [00:08:00] The importance of rewarding positive behaviors.
- [00:12:00] Pressing the two key buttons: caregiver and client acquisition.
- [00:15:00] Why daily huddles and end-of-day reports drive success.
- [00:19:00] Measuring the right metrics to drive business growth.
- [00:26:00] The biggest mistake: making decisions based on anecdotal evidence.
- [00:30:00] Creating a strong, engaged office culture.
- [00:34:00] The servant leadership mindset in home care.
Quotes
- Matt Thompson: "A business is a living, breathing thing—if you lose focus, you lose growth."
- David Knack: "The best leadership isn’t about being in front—it’s about setting others up for success."
- Matt Thompson: "If you want your caregivers to engage, show them that you value them."
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