242 | What Founders Overlook When Scaling with Jonathan “JJ” Jeffries
The Business of You with Rachel Gogos
Release Date: 10/28/2025
255 | The Hidden Cost of Growth and How Smart Leaders Fix It with Megan Crabtree
The Business of You with Rachel Gogos
Behind every growth problem is a lack of structure. Many businesses scale fast, only to realize they've outgrown their systems, their teams, and sometimes even themselves. The result? Burnout, chaos, and missed opportunities are hiding in plain sight. In this episode of The Business of You, we explore what it really takes to grow a business with intention — learning from someone who survived the burnout and chaos caused by the hidden traps of growth for growth’s sake. This conversation is about leadership that balances people and performance, and why data without heart (or heart without...
info_outline
254 | How Accountability Creates Freedom in Business and Life with Robert Hunt
The Business of You with Rachel Gogos
What if the thing you’re avoiding is the very thing holding you back? Accountability often gets a bad reputation — as pressure, control, or punishment. But what if accountability is actually the key to freedom, clarity, and sustainable success? In this episode, we explore why so many leaders feel stuck even though they “know what to do,” and how ownership — not excuses — is what creates real momentum. Robert Hunt is the founder of REF Dallas, a CEO peer group and leadership platform he’s grown since 2013. Known as “The Accountability Guy,” Robert helps leaders reclaim...
info_outline
253 | How AI Is Changing the Way Companies Scale with Casey Woo
The Business of You with Rachel Gogos
What if the most important people in a company are the ones no one talks about? They’re the builders behind the scenes. The operators who organize chaos, fix what’s broken, and quietly turn vision into reality. Scaling isn’t glamorous — but it’s essential. In this episode, we explore what it really takes to grow companies fast and smart, and how AI is accelerating the shift toward adaptable, cross-functional leadership. Casey Woo is a public market investor turned high-growth technology COO and CFO with more than two decades of experience helping companies scale. He’s served as a...
info_outline
252 | What Founders Need to Know About Bringing a Product to Market with Kerim Kfuri
The Business of You with Rachel Gogos
If you’ve ever dreamed of launching a physical product—turning an idea into something tangible—you’ve probably noticed how overwhelming the process can feel. Manufacturing, sourcing, quality control, logistics, global suppliers…every step has layers most founders never see until they’re already in trouble. In a world where disruptions happen daily and the global economy shifts without warning, the founders who succeed aren’t just innovative—they’re prepared. Today’s guest, Kerim Kfuri, brings more than two decades of global supply chain expertise spanning technology,...
info_outline
251 | What It Really Takes to Succeed on Amazon with Pasha Knish
The Business of You with Rachel Gogos
If you’ve ever looked at Amazon and wondered how some brands scale effortlessly while others disappear into a sea of competitors, you’re not alone. Amazon can feel like an unpredictable giant—full of opportunity, but also packed with complexity. And as more entrepreneurs jump in, the brands that win aren’t the ones chasing trends…they’re the ones building with intention. Today’s guest, Pasha Knish, has lived through every era of Amazon—from the Wild West days of early e-commerce to today’s data-driven, hyper-competitive marketplace. With more than 13 years of hands-on selling...
info_outline
250 | The New Rules of Paid Advertising and What's Working Now with John Horn
The Business of You with Rachel Gogos
Have you ever wondered why some brands seem to crack the code with paid ads while others burn through budget with nothing to show for it? If you’ve ever dabbled in Google Ads—or avoided them out of fear of expensive mistakes—this conversation will open your eyes to what’s possible when strategy and execution align. John Horn, CEO of StubGroup, has helped hundreds of companies transform underperforming campaigns into profitable acquisition machines. His team is ranked in the top 1% of Google Partners worldwide for performance and customer care—and their reputation is...
info_outline
249 | The Hidden Skills That Make Great Leaders With Vicky Brown
The Business of You with Rachel Gogos
You know that moment when someone sees something in you long before you’re ready to claim it? For many leaders, that moment becomes the spark that changes everything. For Vicky Brown, it was the gentle (yet persistent) nudge that pushed her from devoted “number two” to founder of a thriving HR firm that’s been supporting high-performance companies for more than two decades. Too often, business owners think of HR as paperwork, policies, or “the stuff you deal with when something goes wrong.” But Vicky’s story—and her expertise—reveal a very different truth: HR is leadership....
info_outline
248 | The Most Powerful Leadership Skill No One’s Talking About with Keri Ford
The Business of You with Rachel Gogos
When success starts to feel like stress, what if your body could tell you why? For high-achievers, it’s easy to push harder, hustle faster, and ignore the quiet signals of exhaustion. But for Keri Ford, those signals became her greatest teachers. A former Creative Director turned award-winning CEO, Keri discovered that the real key to high performance isn’t found in strategy or mindset — it’s found in the nervous system. Through her groundbreaking Somatic Success® method, Keri has helped elite women — from celebrity clients like Alison Sweeney and Kaley Cuoco to powerhouse founders...
info_outline
247 | Turning Your Story into Sales With Dr. Danny Brassell
The Business of You with Rachel Gogos
What if the fastest way to grow your business isn’t marketing harder, but speaking smarter? In this episode, Dr. Danny Brassell shares how to make storytelling and public speaking your most powerful tools for attracting clients, building authority, and confidently closing deals. Known as the “Jim Carrey with a Ph.D.,” Danny has spoken to over 3,500 audiences worldwide and co-founded The WellCrafted Story Workshop™, where he teaches entrepreneurs how to transform their stories into client-generating presentations. The Power Of Clarity And Connection If you’ve ever struggled to...
info_outline
246 | Don’t Scale Your Business Without Hearing This Franchise Model with Bennett Maxwell
The Business of You with Rachel Gogos
What happens when business growth outpaces the guardrails that keep it sustainable? This week, I sit down with Bennett Maxwell, serial entrepreneur, investor, and founder of Franchise KI—best known for scaling Dirty Dough Cookies from one store to over 450 franchises sold in just two years. After experiencing both the highs and the chaos of hypergrowth, Bennett now helps entrepreneurs build wealth through franchising the right way: with systems, structure, and staying power. How To Grow Fast Without Burning Out Bennett reveals the critical mistakes founders make when scaling too...
info_outlineWhat really happens behind the glossy headlines of startup success? For every bold founder story, there’s a quiet trail of “scar tissue”—the hard-earned lessons that shape how leaders grow.
In this episode, Jonathan “JJ” Jeffries, Co-Founder and CEO of Think & Grow, shares what 16 years in the trenches with companies like Stripe, Square, Dropbox, and Peloton have taught him about scaling—and why true leadership is forged through resilience, not perfection.
JJ’s firm is about to release one of the most comprehensive global studies ever conducted on startup board governance, featuring insights from over 750 directors, founders, and venture capitalists. His research reveals how the best companies build boards that don’t just advise—they accelerate.
In this episode, JJ breaks down how to build sustainable growth, rethink board dynamics, and lead with the lessons you’ve earned—and how you can do the same.
Building Companies with “Scar Tissue”
What does “scar tissue” really mean in the world of leadership? For JJ, it’s the resilience and perspective that only comes from experience—especially when things don’t go as planned. From his early career as a soccer coach to leading a global advisory firm, JJ shares how empathy, trust, and humility have become cornerstones of his business philosophy.
He explains that growth isn’t just about strategy or capital—it’s about people. Whether you’re leading a startup or a thousand-person company, success depends on your ability to align communication, trust your team, and make space for reflection.
As he puts it, “You’re only as good as the last piece of work you’ve delivered.” JJ dives into how service-based founders can manage pressure, avoid burnout, and still lead with purpose.
The Future of Boards and the AI Revolution
JJ’s forthcoming Think & Grow Global Board Governance Study uncovers powerful shifts in how startups are structuring their boards. For the first time in history, underrepresented individuals now hold over 50% of board seats in the U.S.—a milestone signaling a more diverse and inclusive leadership landscape.
He also reveals how AI is shaking up boardroom priorities, with 50% of directors already pushing companies to explore AI integration and another 35% planning to do so soon. But JJ cautions that many boards still lack hands-on experience with these technologies—a knowledge gap that could shape (or stall) innovation in the years ahead.
The conversation closes with JJ’s reflections on communication as the defining skill of scalable leadership. Whether across continents or teams, clarity and consistency create culture—and often determine whether a company thrives or fractures.
Enjoy this episode with Jonathan “JJ” Jeffries…
Soundbytes
04:49 “You’re only as good as the last piece of work you’ve delivered, really. And that can take a taxing amount of effort and time in your headspace.”
11:24 “For the first time in history, underrepresented persons are now over 50% of startup boards.“
33:00 “I'd happily work endless hours and do what you need to do as a founder and have done for years. And I'm probably starting to understand that I can not do that.”
Quotes
“You’re only as good as the last piece of work you’ve delivered.”
“The biggest thing missing in most businesses is a common language.”
“Trust is the one reason someone will buy you.”
“Every time you hire someone, your culture changes.”
“Growth isn’t a one-time event—it’s a sustainable pattern.”
Links mentioned in this episode
From Our Guest
Website: https://thinkandgrowinc.com
Connect with Jonathan “JJ” Jeffries on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-jeffries-thinkandgrow
Connect with brandiD
Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: https://thebrandid.com/professional-presence-podcast
Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website?
Contact us here: https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/